Azerbaijan: Video Campaign to Release Detained Activists

The recent detention of two cyber-activists and youth leaders in Azerbaijan this past week has caused consternation among bloggers and activists inside and outside Azerbaijan, and now a video campaign has been set off to call the Azeri government into action to release both youth movement leaders:  Adnan Hajizada and Emin Milli.

Previous Global Voices posts have been updating information: from the July 8th detention on charges of hooliganism, to reactions from the blogosphere to their detention and arrest. A brief summary of the alleged events is being offered at the Support Azerbaijani Youth Activists’ page where people can submit their support videos:

On 8th of July while Azerbaijani youth movement leaders Adnan Hajizada and Emin Milli were talking to their friends in a restaurant two unknown sportsmen attacked and started beating them. As a result Adnan's nose was broken and Emin's foot was hurt.

Despite the fact that they themselves went to the police so as to complain as victims, the police detained them as suspects. The sportsmen who attacked them were released. No medical assistance was provided to Emin and Adnan during 48 hours. They were not allowed to meet with their lawyers.

After these 48 hours, the court has ruled for 2 months’ detention for Emin and Adnan without any proofs and grounding. Further investigation will proceed during these 2 months pre-trial detention. The investigation is fake. The court has turned into a theatre.

We turn to the entire world today:
Do not let Azerbaijani youth alone. Please support us. Do not allow Azerbaijani youth fighting for democracy to be silenced.

The following is their shout out to video bloggers everywhere to make a video asking for the release of Adnan and Emin:

People have already complied to this request (including myself) and have uploaded their support videos:

From Taiwan:

From Azerbaijan:

and from Hawaii:

To send your own support message is easy:

1. Take a camera
2. Introduce yourself: My name is … I am from…
3. Send your support message to Adnan and Emin
4. Finish your video with the words: I call on Azerbaijani government to end this lawlessness.
5. Upload this video to Youtube with subject “Support to Adnan and Emin”
6. Send the link of the video to ol.azerbaijan@gmail.com

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