By Mina Muradova (12/10/2009 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The recent charges against two youth leaders and bloggers provoked international concerns over the freedom of speech in oil-rich Azerbaijan. Observers considered the court decision to be politically motivated and aimed at censoring young activists critical of the government.

The recent charges against two youth leaders and bloggers provoked international concerns over the freedom of speech in oil-rich Azerbaijan. Observers considered the court decision to be politically motivated and aimed at censoring young activists critical of the government.

A Baku court sentenced 26-year-old Adnan Hajizade, a co-founder of the OL (To Be) youth movement, and 30-year-old Emin Milli, a co-founder of the online Alumni Network, to prison on November 11. Hajizade was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment while his co-defendant Milli was given a sentence of two and a half years.

The two bloggers were arrested after being assaulted by three men in a Baku restaurant on July 8 on charges of attacking their assailants, and later convicted of hooliganism and inflicting bodily harm after allegedly attacking two men.

Hajizade claimed that he suffered injuries to his head, face and that his t-shirt was completely covered in blood. He also stated in court hearings that Milli's leg was covered in blood after the incident. However, they were not provided with medical assistance.

Milli and Hajizade are both western-educated young activist bloggers who turned critical of the Azerbaijani government. Their blogs dealt with the country’s democratization, education and corruption, and called on young people to be active in Azerbaijan’s public processes.

Prior to their arrest, they posted a political video clip on YouTube, displaying satirical criticism of government policies and social issues. A donkey, played by Hajizade, is holding a press conference at which he describes Azerbaijan’s positive attitude to donkeys. Journalists in the clip address the donkey as "Esel ["donkey" in German] Heinz," which when pronounced sounds similar to Azerbaijani for "Mr. President." Azerbaijani authorities, however, insist that Milli and Hajizade were sentenced on a strictly criminal charge.

Following the verdict, the U.S. State Department termed the verdict "a step backwards for Azerbaijan's progress towards democratic reform". "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," the statement affirmed.

On November 25, the defendants’ lawyers filed an appeal against the court decision. Observers see the forthcoming appeals hearing as an opportunity for Azerbaijan's authorities to soften the verdict through transforming it to a suspended sentence or community service. However the lawyers have in parallel started to prepare documents for an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

A senior official from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has urged the authorities of Azerbaijan to fully apply the fair trial standards during the appeals process. The acting head of ODIHR's human rights department, Assia Ivantcheva, recently visited Milli and Hajizade and had no complaints about the conditions in the recently built detention centre where they are held.

Observers said that the conviction provides a clear message on the cost of engaging in democratic debate and expressing alternative opinions in Azerbaijan. While Azerbaijan is among the OSCE countries with the largest number of imprisoned journalists, it is also leading in the development of the blogosphere among the South Caucasus states. Online media has become an important space for the freedom of expression in Azerbaijan due to restrictions on media, in particular on independent television broadcasting.

The bloggers’ case was ignored by the six national TV channels, while independent print media reported on it without access to the trial. Only the correspondents of BBC Radio, Azadliq Radio (the Azerbaijani Service of Radio Liberty), the independent Turan news agency and some representatives of international organizations were able to attend the court hearings.

News on the proceedings of each court hearing were spread mainly through internet sources and shared through Facebook, Twitter and other online networks. As soon as Milli and Hajizade were detained, online publications about the case and campaigns for the protection of their rights turned the two bloggers into heroes.

Some observers believe the Azerbaijani authorities seek to prevent the opposition from making use of the Internet as a campaigning tool in the run-up to next year’s parliamentary elections. Blogs and social networking websites have become very popular among young Azerbaijanis, and the events do not seem to have altered this trend. The fear appearing among other bloggers immediately after the arrests rapidly changed into a huge interest in blogging and online media.

International organizations and Western governments have pressured Azerbaijan on the case, lobbying for the two bloggers at the highest levels of government. However, Azerbaijani authorities seem to believe they can ignore international pressure because of the country’s energy wealth and its strategic partnership with the West in the war on terror. The President of Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that the country carries out its own domestic policy and that international organizations have no right to interfere with domestic issues.