Azerbaijani youth activists hold protest actions

Today in Baku several youth organizations of Azerbaijan have held a protest action dated to the first anniversary of the arrest of the bloggers Adnan Gadjizade and Emin Milli.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, at about 2:00 p.m. young men from the organization named "Dalga" unexpectedly gathered at the building of the Azerbaijani State Philharmonic Society and ran to the building of the President's Administration, shouting out: "Freedom to Adnan and Emin!", "Cancel the illegal verdict!" and "Stop pressure on youth!"

As stated in the resolution disseminated by the "Dalga" activists, "those who had arrested Adnan and Emin had failed to worry about the country's image. We believe that those who understand the value of this image will correct the situation."

The action was dispersed by the police already at the building of the administration. As a result, four persons were detained. Two hours later they were set free.

Another action, also dated to one year after bloggers' arrest, took place today in the Azerbaijan House of Human Rights; it was organized by the youth wing of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA).

On the first anniversary of the bloggers' arrest the international organization in defence of journalists "Reporters without Borders" also called to their immediate release.

Yesterday the famous film script writer Rustam Ibragimbekov addressed, on behalf of a group of Azerbaijani intellectuals, the authorities with an appeal to release the journalist Einullah Fatullaev and bloggers Milli and Gadjizade and to put an end to persecution of dissidents in the country.

"I haven't received any Rustam Ibragimbekov's address," was the comment of Ali Gasanov, head of the public-political department of the presidential administration. He refused to make comments on the critical statements of numerous international organizations.