Second Azerbaijani blogger released from prison, third journalist still 'illegally' imprisoned

Second Azerbaijani blogger released from prison, third journalist still 'illegally' imprisoned

2010-11-19 20:55:29 GMT+7 (ICT)

VIENNA (BNO NEWS) -- A district court in Azerbaijan on Friday ordered the release of a blogger who had been imprisoned since last year, a day after a similar ruling in favor of a fellow blogger, but a third journalist still remains imprisoned.

Azerbaijani bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade were arrested in July 2009 on charges of hooliganism, relating to a satirical video that had been posted online. Milli was sentenced to 30 months in prison, while Hajizade was sentenced to 24 months in prison.

But the conviction sparked anger from human rights organizations and from other governments such as the United States. "This court decision is a step backwards for Azerbaijan's progress towards democratic reform," said (now former) U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly on November 11, 2009. "The non-transparent investigation, closed court hearings, disproportionate legal charges, and failure to detain and charge the assailants have raised concerns about the independence of the police and the judiciary as well as about restrictions on freedom of expression in Azerbaijan."

But on Thursday, the Baku Appellate Court ordered the conditional release of Hacizade and suspended his sentence. On Friday, the court took a similar decision for Milli.

"Adnan Hajizade is free and this is very good news," Reporters Without Borders said on Thursday. "It follows an exemplary campaign by his family, civil society and bloggers in Azerbaijan and other countries and pressure from the international community."

However, Reporters Without Borders noted that Hajizade's and Milli's convictions have not been quashed. "We nonetheless regret that his conviction has not been quashed as we have always insisted that he was arrested for exercising the right to free expression and was jailed on grotesque charges after a sham trial," the press freedom organization said.

But despite the release of both bloggers, concerns remain for journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, the founder and editor of the Russian-language weekly Real Azerbaijan and the Azeri-language daily Everyday Azerbaijan.

Fatullayev has been in prison since April 2007 after writing an article which said Azerbaijani could support a U.S.-led assault on Iran. Earlier this year, Fatullayev was convicted on criminal charges of drug possession and sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.

However, many have condemned the charges and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) called the charges 'highly improbable'. The United States has previously also called for Fatullayev's immediate release.

"The United States urges the Government of Azerbaijan to fully respect press freedoms, including the right to investigate and freely publish via both traditional and new internet-based media," said U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner after the conviction in July.

Previously, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Fatullayev was being held illegally and should be released immediately. Azerbaijani authorities, however, have refused to do this.

"I am encouraged by these positive developments," said the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic, after Friday's court decision. "The Azerbaijani authorities should now build on this trend and release Fatullayev from custody without delay."

"Our societies should not be afraid of written and spoken words," Mijatovic added. "With the OSCE Summit in Astana approaching, all OSCE participating States that keep in jail people whose only crime is to express their opinions should set them free."

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