Jailed Azerbaijani Bloggers Allowed To Meet Parents

Media and followers outside the trial of Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada in an Azerbaijani district court in November

A Baku district court has ruled that two jailed Azerbaijani bloggers may meet with their parents, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada were sentenced to 2 1/2 and two years in jail, respectively, on November 11 after being found guilty of "hooliganism and battery."

Judge Araz Huseinov has allowed the parents of Hajizada to visit with his parents on November 25, while Milli and his parents will be allowed to meet the following day.

The bloggers -- both of whom wrote critically about the government -- were detained after being confronted and scuffling with two men in a Baku restaurant on July 8.

Milli and Hajizada were not allowed to meet with their relatives while they were being held in detention.

International human rights organizations consider the case against them to be politically motivated and connected to their criticism of the government in their blogs.