Donkey Bloggers three years later

Seeing Adnan's Facebook status update reminded me of the first post I wrote on the "donkey bloggers" case three years ago, on July 9th, 2009 and other updates that followed, like this one for instance. 

I am happy that my friends are free today and that they left that part of their life behind, while moving forward. Needless to say, I wish for all innocent journalists, activists, and human rights defenders currently behind bars, on alleged charges released and charges against them dropped.

If you still haven't seen it or never heard of it, here is a video that eventually caused Adnan and Emin's arrest:

 

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev's case remains unsettled

On Tuesday, December 6th, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan rejected Bakhtiyar Hajiyev's appeal. His lawyer, Sadig Bagirov, not surprised with the final ruling, announced his decision to take Hajiyev's case to the European Court of Human Rights. 

According to AzeriReport article, Hajiyev didn't attend the hearing due to "technical" issues (it turns out Azerbaijan is not so advanced when it comes to technology- the telegram sent the day before the hearing asking for Hajiyev's permission to be present at his own hearing miraculously never reached the court in time). 

During the hearing three motions were raised. Among them (and one of the most important ones) were a request to clarify "the compliance of the law on military service with the Azerbaijani Constitution" given Azerbaijani Constitution allows for alternative military service [Hajiyev was arrested on charges of evading military service] while the law on military service has not provided any provision on alternative service".

The decision indeed should come as no surprise. This happened before and will continue happening as long as Azerbaijan remains among the countries controlling its every single state institution, including the judicial system.