In Azerbaijan, arrested bloggers refuse from evidencing

On August 10, Judge of the Sabail District Court of Baku Nuraddin Bagirov rejected the claim of bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Gadjizade against the MIA and the State Office of Public Prosecutor of Azerbaijan.

The claim was initiated after the statements of the above bodies dated July 11 and 14 in the context of the criminal case opened against youth activists accused of hooliganism. Thus, two statements of the MIA and the Prosecutor's Office stated the guilt of Gadjizade and Milli, although it has not been proved by the court yet.

Isakhan Ashurov, Mr Gadjizade's advocate, making his comments in a conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on the rejection of the bloggers' suit by the court that "the trial was held closed, although this civil case contains no state secrets."

Besides, as marked by Mr Ashurov, "Ziya Aliev, an inspector of the Sabail District Police, was summoned as a respondent; however, he can't respond, as the disputed statements were made on behalf of the MIA and the State Office of Public Prosecutor."

Lawyer Ashurov also said that on August 8 the bloggers Milli and Gadjizade, kept in custody at the investigatory isolation facility, refused to participate in investigatory actions, in particular, to evidence. According to his version, the reason was in falsification of case materials.

"In particular, the detainees believe that the investigation, instead of checking up their evidences, is occupied with searching artificial proofs of their guilt," he said.

So far, no comments could be obtained at the Sabail Police. The press service of the MIA said only that "the investigation continues."