Azerbaijan Opposition Bloggers Sentenced To Jail

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — A court in Azerbaijan sentenced two bloggers to prison Wednesday for a fight in a restaurant, but the defendants say the charges were a pretext to punish them for political dissent.

The U.S. swiftly condemned the court decision, calling it "a step backwards for Azerbaijan's progress towards democratic reform."

Emin Abdullayev and Adnan Hadzhizade were convicted of hooliganism for a fight authorities say they started in a restaurant in Baku, the capital, in July. A court sentenced Abdullayev on Wednesday to two years and two and Hadzhizade to two and a half years.

Abdullayev, an opposition youth activist who runs an Internet TV program under the name of Milli, told the court there was no "higher honor than being punished for one's ideals."

Hadzhizade is a video blogger and opposition group member.

Their lawyers said the charges were politically motivated and announced plans to appeal.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly sharply criticized the ruling.