Arrests Outside Blogger Trial

I spent this afternoon in a Baku district court jockeying to get inside so I could could cover the proceedings. It was the first day of testimony in the hooliganism trial the state has brought against Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli -- two local youth activists and bloggers.

There were over 100 supporters outside. Some showed up with printed tee-shirts which said, "I'm a hooligan too." Police quickly rounded these folks up and arrested them. Ironic that outside a trial against two bloggers -- which most say is politically motivated due to the defendants' speech -- free speech isn't allowed.

After the hearing the defendants were taken out of the courthouse (in handcuffs) and placed in an ambulance. The police formed a ring around the vehicle to keep press and supporters away. I took the picture above of the two law enforcement officials standing right in front of me.

Here's the EurasiaNet article on the trial.