November 14, 2009 - 10:57 AMT
International Community condemns Azerbaijan for subjecting pro-opposition figures to violence
International human rights organizations and several governments, including US Administration, have condemned Azerbaijani authorities' decision to arrest two bloggers - opposition activists - accused of committing hooliganism in public place and inflicting trivial bodily injuries on people.

This Wednesday, Azerbaijani court sentenced Emin Abdulaev and Adnan Gadjiadze to 2 and 2.5 years in prison respectively, on charges of organizing a bicker in one of Baku's restaurants last July.

Both defendants said they were attacked by policemen dressed in civilian clothes and characterized accusation them as pretext for punishing their political dissidence. They criticized Azerbaijani authorities on popular Azerbaijani Web sites. Bloggers' arrest was followed by display of satiric posting on alleged press-conference by President Ilham Aliyev.