OSCE/ODIHR official visits Azerbaijani bloggers in detention, stresses importance of fair appeals trial

BAKU, 25 November 2009 - After meeting the Azerbaijani bloggers Emin Abdullayev and Adnan Hajizade in the detention centre in Baku where they are held, a senior official from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today underlined the importance of fair trial standards being upheld during the upcoming appeals process.

"We are concerned about reports of procedural irregularities during the trial of Emin. Abdullayev and Adnan Hajizade, and encourage the authorities to fully apply the fair trial standards Azerbaijan has committed to uphold as a participating State of the OSCE during the appeals process," said Assia Ivantcheva, acting head of ODIHR's human rights department.

Abdullayev, the initiator of a youth network, and Hajizade, a video blogger, had been actively using social networking tools and other Internet fora to organize events and share their political views before they were sentenced to prison on charges of hooliganism earlier this month.

Both men are former employees of ODIHR election observation missions.

Ivantcheva noted that Abdullayev and Hajizade had no complaints about the conditions in the newly-built detention centre where they are held. Azerbaijani authorities facilitated the OSCE delegation's visit.

"While we have no intention to interfere with the ongoing judicial proceedings, we see the forthcoming appeals hearing as an opportunity for Azerbaijan's authorities to implement their international rule of law obligations, including the full respect for the principle of equality of arms between prosecution and defence," she added.