International human rights activists to send their observers to bloggers' trial in Azerbaijan

A number of well-known international human rights organizations have decided to send their representatives to Azerbaijan to the forthcoming litigation against young bloggers and activists Adnan Gadjizade and Emin Milli.

In particular, as reported in the statement of the Azerbaijani Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), which has arrived to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, the Human Rights Watch (HRW), the World Organization against Torture (OMTC), the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the International Fund in Defence of Human Rights Activists (the "Front Line") plan to send their observers to the trial.

In its turn, the IPD is ready to receive and accommodate the international observers.

The date of the trial is still unknown; however, it should take place not later than September 10, the date, when the two-month arrest of the young men expires.

The advocate Elton Guliev has stated the inconsistency of the charges of hooliganism presented to the bloggers: "This is arbitrariness. The arrest of the young men has to do with their public activities; and the case is obviously political. The inspectors' version that they behaved as hooligans at a restaurant is a lie. On the contrary, Messrs Milli and Gadjizade were attacked by hooligans."

In his turn, Novruz Mamedov, head of the international division of the Administration of the President of Azerbaijan, made his comments on the criticism of international organizations of the arrest of young men, has reproached them for "politicizing" the case. "It's a pity that today the West is using its capabilities for making a mountain out of a molehill," the "Turan" Agency quotes Mr Mamedov as saying.