Report from the first day of the bloggers' trial, Part I

On 16th September, Sabail District Court presided by Justice Araz Huseynov held the first hearing of Azerbaijani bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade's trial. State prosecution was represented by Jeyhun Karimov from Sabail District Prosecutor's office and bloggers – by lawyers Isakhan Ashurov and Elton Guliyev. Below is my report, though for now, only first part.

Detention of six supporters

Well, the comedy started even before I could manage to arrive in the court, though I admit I was a little late. From friendly tweets I learned that at the very start of the trial, six supporters of Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade were rounded-up in front of the court and taken to the nearest police station. The reason? They were wearing support T-shirts with “I am a hooligan too” on them. When police detained these guys, they allegedly told: “Well, you have already confessed that you are hooligans, now let's go to the police station where we will explain you this legally.”

Peculiar thing was that they detained only guys. One girl wearing the same t-shirt took it off and police left her. Police confiscated remaining T-shirts as well. As one observer later said, the Azeri government is very fashion-sensitive.

Trial starts

This time, Emin and Adnan were brought from prison in a normal van. If you recall my previous report, then you know that last time their van had no windows on its sides. Though now, the van was accompanied by two police cars (last time it was only one). Two accompanying soldiers were also spotted.

The trial was held in the same small room. Those who were admitted inside were either relatives or foreign observers. There was a kind of a list according to which people were admitted or rejected. Representatives of OSCE, US and British embassies, EU, NDI and several reporters were inside.

Supporters are split

As police rounded up six supporters, the remaining people encountered a little dilemma – to remain in front of the court or leave for police station following the detained. Veteran human rights activist Arzu Abdullayeva from Helsinki Citizens' Assembly, a RFE/RL journalist and a group of youth left for the station. Among those who remained in front of the court there was a group of Baku's prominent lawyers, all elite of them. They were discussing the perspectives of the case and the general tone was pessimistic. One lawyer said that they might be convicted and then pardoned, but the overall consensus was that the outcome of the case was greatly unpredictable.

The split of supporters was also peculiar – all Twitter users remained at the court while those updating Facebook statuses went to the police station.

News from the police station

At first it was shock news and it came from a very authoritative source – the guys were taken to Baku City Main Police Department and they were accused of “a crime of special content”. Then it was announced that the guys are still in the station and are accused of hooliganism. Arzu Abdullayeva intervened and said that she was a witness, no hooliganism happened. However, police replied: “How then you can call it?”

Arzu Abdullayeva wasn't let inside and thus, they called for heavy artillery – other human rights activist Elchin Behbudov, the head of Azerbaijan National Committee Against Tortures. He wasn't let in either. After several calls to high ranking police officials, police allowed him to enter the station and meet the detained and police officials there.

When he came out, Behbudov told that guys would be released in an hour and half and they are writing explanations. The Ministry Spokesman also told the human rights activists that the detained guys would be given an “educational conversation”. Friendly chat, nothing more.

Wandering artist

There was a guy at the court, M., who came with his guitar – he used to play in front of the courts and police stations as a kind of support and always singing some protests songs in best traditions of Russian bards. Though this time, it all went wrong.

First M. left for the police station where he tried to play a cheerful song but he was interrupted. Police did not allow him to play his guitar and thus he returned to the court. But, alas! As soon as he started to play, two plainclothes approached him and forced him to stop.

At this moment, I and M. left for the police station to get some updates. No twitter users there!

Democracy in Netherlands

When we arrived at the police station the supporters were having a chat with two officers outside (as a counter balance for a friendly chat inside). The supporters were talking about Emin and Adnan, their beliefs and activities and why the youth wants democracy. The police was employing the arguments such as traditions, respect for elders, acceptance of the authorities and stability (“the governments mustn't be changed”), slamming 10 May protests (“look at their misbehavior that they wore black bands on such a great day!”).

Then as always in Azerbaijan, the discussion came to a point where Netherlands became a main argument to show why democracy is immoral and doomed (narcotics, prostitution and homosexuality). Incidentally, there was a guy who said that he has lived in Netherlands for three months and discussion went on whether democracy in Netherlands is bad or good. I couldn't follow the discussion till the end as a tweet arrived saying that one of the lawyers was briefly out.

Situation is in Russian

Tweets said that Elton Guliyev went out and when he was asked about the hearing, answered: “Situation is in Russian.” And whole #EminAdnan followers started to wonder: what does it mean? What did he say in Russian? Well, Twitter users are to blame - it is an idiom in Azeri which means that things are in the worst state, in a terrible condition.

How this would make me surprised when I'd ask later an OSCE representative what was going in the courtroom. “I think they will be released” he would say and I would ask with astonishment “why you think so?” “Because the lawyer is optimistic...”

(to be continued)