Azerbaijani Activist Released From Pretrial Detention
Agasif Shakiroglu (file photo)
August 07, 2009
BAKU -- Youth activist Agasif Shakiroglu has been released from pretrial detention and sent to perform military service, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.
An appeals court announced the decision to release Shakiroglu, citing an investigation into whether he had evaded military service.
Sahkiroglu, who was detained on July 3, was immediately sent from jail to a military-recruitment station.
The activist says the charge of evading military service is baseless and an attempt to silence critical activists.
Two prominent Azerbaijani bloggers, Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada, are still in pretrial detention on charges of hooliganism.