[1]In what many consider to be a politically motivated trial to stifle dissent in Azerbaijan, video blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade [2] and Emin Milli [3] once again appeared in court today.
The two young activists, exemplary in their use of new media in the region, were unexpectedly detained in the early hours of 8 July [4] after they were attacked at a restaurant in the center of Baku, the Azerbaijani capital.
On the eve of yet another hearing, Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines blogger Arzu Geybullayeva summed up her own feelings about the case [5].
Tomorrow (27th October), Adnan and Emin are going to have another hearing. Its been almost two weeks since the last one and there is still hope that they will be released. At least I want to hope so! I want to see my friends free again. I want their parents to see their sons and be proud of them. I want all of us- his friends, be honored that we have friends as them.
The following morning, L4L made a similar post [6] albeit in a much shorter form and injected with some humor, perhaps in an effort to lift the spirits of others.
I don’t want to hear anything rational right now. I don’t want to think anything rational right now. I want them out of the jail today. Adnan still owes me few rounds of beer. So, i want them back. :)
When the trial started earlier today, supporters of the two detained activists used Facebook and Twitter to spread updates from the ground worldwide.
However, as has been common throughout the case and despite significant international outcry, many seem resigned to the fact that the authorities appear intent on dragging out the court case for as long as possible rather than see it come to a speedy end.
Support Adnan and Emin yesterday listed some of the many concerns [7] about the trial expressed by human rights and pro-democracy organizations inside Azerbaijan.
This legal trial chaired by Araz Huseynov strikingly indicates the dependence of the judicial system on the executive power and the use of trials for political pressure on dissidents and repressions, particularly against freedom of speech, thought and self-expression.
Despite likely having already resigned themselves to more of the same, the disappointment was evident in the tweets of supporters when the hearing was adjourned less than a hour after it started.
Update: Some hours after the hearing, L4L made a promised second post reflecting on the day. The blog summed up the combination of both anger, frustration and hope that supporters of the two online activists must have felt [8].
Well, we all witnessed what happened today. Adnan’s and Emin’s court hearing was postponed once again […]. One of the witnesses was missing, so judge decided that one hour of work is enough for his conscience to continue its state of sleep for another week and told tired audience of this spectacle that next hearing will be held on November 6, 2009(2009!). Seriously, case of hooliganism that is already under investigation for almost 4 months? Should we consider contacting Guinness World Records anytime soon? […]
[…]
[…] E&A’s smile, the way they handle themselves. Dignity, positivity, courage. Love and happiness in their eyes every time they see us. The fact that they still cheer us even being behind convoy car’s bars. That makes me hopeful. That gives me strength. And I hope that our tries to cheer them up are working, that they know how much we love them and miss them. Of course, I hope that Adnan didn’t forget about 2 beers that he still owes me :)
Full coverage of the detention and trial of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli is available in the Azerbaijan section [9] of Global Voices Online and on the OL! Blog (in English [10] and Azeri [11]). The hashtag #EminAdnan [12] is also used on Twitter.
