Free again

This is a short excerpt from most recent article I wrote for Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso on Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada's releases. 

          'Bloggers in Azerbaijan Back to Freedom'

The tiny apartment in downtown Baku was full of people that evening. It had been a long time since so much laughter and joy had been heard in that apartment. But that night, there was a reason to celebrate. Emin (Milli) Abdullayev and Adnan Hajizade were finally free again.

One year ago

Emin Milli, 32, co-founder of the AN Network and Adnan Hajizade, 27, co- founder of another youth network, OL! (To Be), were convicted on charges of “hooliganism” and “infliction of intentional physical violence” and sentenced to two years and six months and two years respectively onNovember 11th 2009 . The two had been arrested four months prior, (July 2009), for allegedly starting a brawl in a restaurant in Baku. Their detention and later arrest was harshly criticized by local and international organizations. For independent human rights observers at home and abroad, this was yet another example of Azerbaijani authorities cracking down on freedom of expression in this country [...]

 You can read the full version of the article here.