Azerbaijani court to consider bloggers' complaint on January 8

Today, the Baku Appeal Court, chaired by Gail Mamedov, held a preparatory session on the complaint of young bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Gadjizade, sentenced on November 11 to 2.5 and 2 years of imprisonments for hooliganism and inflicting bodily injuries.

In their complaint, the young men insist on their innocence and ask the Appeal Court to cancel the verdict of the first instance.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that the preparatory session lasted for 10 minutes only.

In the beginning, Isakhan Ashurov, Gadjizade's advocate, moved a petition to release Gadjizade and Milli till the court session on bail of 5,000 manats (about 6000 US dollars) for each. He also expressed protest against bringing the bloggers to the courtroom in handcuffs, regarding it as "inhuman treatment."

Then the court retired for consultation, and returned in 10 minutes. Judge Mamedov announced that "the petition was rejected," and gave no explanations. He also expressed no attitude to the advocate's protest against defendants' handcuffs. Mr Mamedov has only stated that the start of consideration of the complaint was appointed on January 8, 2010.