Azerbaijan: Baku Tries to Quash Embassy Complaints about Arrested Youth Activists

Azerbaijan's Interior Ministry is telling embassies of "certain countries" to stop pushing Baku to free two prominent youth activists detained earlier in July on hooliganism charges.

"We strongly protest against the doubts cast on the case of plain hooliganism and the statements meant to tarnish the objectivity of the investigation," said an Interior Ministry statement distributed July 14. "We call on the diplomatic missions of certain countries to stop interfering with the investigation and internal affairs of the host country, as this falls outside their mandate."

Adnan Hajizade, a blogger and member of the Ol! opposition movement, and youth activist Emin Milli were arrested July 8 for allegedly starting a drunken brawl in a restaurant. They were subsequently ordered to endure two months of pre-trial detention. Their supporters charge that the arrests and detentions constitute an attempt to stifle political dissent in Azerbaijan. Government critics have called on foreign diplomatic representations, especially the US Embassy, to exert pressure the government to release the detained duo.