Azerbaijan regards the comments on the arrest of two bloggers, Adan Gajiyev and Emin Milli, made by the Norwegian and German diplomatic missions as interference in the country’s domestic affairs. In this connection, the German and Norwegian chargés d'affaires were summoned to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Deputy Foreign Minister Vagif Sadykhov held a meeting with them.

He reportedly informed the diplomats of the Azerbaijani side’s discontent with the comments made by their respective diplomatic missions. Azerbaijan regards the comments as ungrounded and not in line with the level of Azerbaijan’s relations with Germany and Norway. Azerbaijan also regards the actions as attempted interference in its domestic affairs. Sadykhov stated that the young bloggers were tried in conformity with Azerbaijan’s law. The trial was transparent and widely covered by the country’s mass media.

The diplomats pointed out they will inform their authorities of Azerbaijan’s position.

On November 11, Amin Mili, 30, (Head of Alumni Network) and Adnan Gajizade, 26, (Head of the Ol youth movement) were sentenced to 2 years and six months and to years of imprisonment respectively. Such organizations as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Reporters sans frontiers and others criticized Azerbaijan for the arrest and trial of the young men.