Court upholds prior decision on young activists

by Ilgar Rasul

On 20 July Court of Appeal proceeded with examining Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli's appeal case.

Defendants' attorneys pleaded for substitution of judges prompted by the court decision to hold closed hearings.

Judge Mirpasha Huseynov chaired Adnan Hajizadeh's case proceedings. Emin Milli's case hearings were chaired by judge Jalal Ramazanov.

Court declined attorneys' plea.

Firstly, the judge declined Emin Milli's appeal, his attorney Elton Guliyev told media.

Later Adnan Hajizadeh's attorney Isakhan Ashurov reported the same outcome for his case.

Representatives of foreign embassies and international organisations accredited in Baku as well as members of local civil society and media community gathered in front of the court building during the case hearings.

Youth activists Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli were charged with hooliganism and received 2 months pre-trial detention. A number of international human rights watchdogs condemned the arrest and called charges implausible.

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