Critical note by European Parliaments’ Subcommittee on Human Rights

The European Parliaments’ Subcommittee on Human Rights at the Committee on Foreign Affairs, has addressed a critical note to the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU in the case of Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade.

In its note the Committee expresses its deep concern about the second court ruling of 20th July 2009, upholding the first court decision imposing two months pre-trial detention of the two bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade upon their arrest on 8th July 2009.

Referring to Azerbaijan’s commitment to several international conventions, including the European Convention on Human Rights, the Chairperson raises particular concerns about the detainees’ basic rights to a fair and public hearing, given that the defendants had late access to lawyers and the hearings were closed. Furthermore the letter points out the Committee’s concern about the detention’s extensive duration of two months and the lack of immediate access to proper medical treatment after the arrest.

The Committee calls this incident a negative sign in relation to Azerbaijan’s commitments laid down in the EU-Azerbaijan Action Plan, calling upon the Azerbaijani government to clarify its position on this issue.