29 July 2009, 23:30
European MPs are anxious about arrest of bloggers in Azerbaijan
Christophe Strasser, Rapporteur of the PACE on Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan, is concerned with the arrest "under contradictory circumstances" of two activists of civil society - Emin Milli and Adnan Gadjizade, while deputies of the European Parliament have expressed their concern in a corresponding address to Azerbaijani ambassador in Belgium, Luxembourg and European Union.
Mr Strasser's statement that is now at the disposal of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent runs as follows: "These arrests will draw attention of the international community to the cases of the journalists and NGO activists, convicted in Azerbaijan."
"While drafting my report, I'll pay great attention to arrests of oppositional and civil society activists," Mr Strasser, Rapporteur of the PACE on political prisoners in Azerbaijan and MP from Germany, has further emphasized.
In its turn, the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the Committee on Foreign Relations has addressed its statement to the ambassador of Azerbaijan in Belgium, Luxembourg and European Union on the cases of Adnan Gadjizade and Emin Milli.
The statement is expressing deep concern about the decision of the Baku Appeal Court of July 20 to uphold the verdict of the first instance court to arrest the two bloggers for two months while the investigation is on.
By reminding about Azerbaijan's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the Subcommittee has expressed its deep anxiety about the ensuring the detainees' fundamental rights at detention and in the course of investigation. In particular, a copy of the Subcommittee's statement that has arrived to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent from Brussels indicates a failure to provide medical aid to the detainees and ensure access to advocates and expresses doubts of the necessity of their two-month arrest.
Despite the growing number of of appeals and statements of international organizations on the bloggers' cases, neither MFA nor Administration of the President of Azerbaijan gives any comments.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent