Sadygov: Norway and Germany interfere in Azerbaijani home affairs

The statement, made by Vagif Sadygov, deputy minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan, runs that the comments of the diplomatic missions of Norway and Germany on the cases of young bloggers Gadjizade and Milli convicted in Baku were regarded by the Azerbaijani party as unreasonable and mismatching the level of current relations of these countries with Azerbaijan, and as attempts to interfere in home affairs of Azerbaijan.

On Monday, November 16, the temporary charges d'affaires of Norway and Germany in Baku - Lars Hansen and Peter Zegler - were invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan. The topic of their meetings with Mr Sadygov was related to the press releases of the diplomatic missions of these countries on the verdict passed by the Sabail District Court of Baku to young bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Gadjizade.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 11 Milli and Gadjizade were sentenced to 2.5 and 2 years of imprisonment respectively on charges of hooliganism and infliction of bodily injuries. The embassies of Norway and Germany expressed their regret that the young men were punished by imprisonment. Their comments marked that the litigation and the case as a whole had given rise to serious questions as to the rule of and the freedom of self-expression in Azerbaijan. The hope was expressed that the supposed consideration of the appeal complaint will be held in a fair and transparent form.

The statement of the press service of the Azerbaijani MFA, which has arrived to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, runs that deputy minister Sadygov has expressed "surprise and regret" of the Azerbaijani party for the ideas revealed in the statements of the embassies of Germany and Norway. He has emphasized that the bloggers' trial was held "in accordance with the requirements of the legislation and with observance of procedural norms, including ensured transparency of proceedings and conditions for coverage of the trial by media."

In their turn, both invited diplomat assured that they would convey the position of the Azerbaijani party to their governments.