Watchdog

BAKU -- Three youth activists in Azerbaijan have been sentenced to 15 days in jail for distributing antigovernment stickers and leaflets.

A court in Baku found the leader of the Free Youth movement, Ulvi Hasanli; one of its activists, Macid Marcanli; and a member of the Nida citizens' movement, Kenan Qasimli, guilty on July 15 of "violating social order" and "disobeying police."

The three were arrested on July 14 in connection with stickers and leaflets distributed recently in the Baku subway calling on people "to change the government."

In March, seven Nida activists were arrested for possession of illegal drugs and weapons after they took part in a public protest in Baku.

Human Rights Watch has accused the Azerbaijani authorities of trying to silence Nida activists, saying the government has a record of pressing false charges to silence dissent.

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that sentencing convicted criminals to life in prison without possibility of release is a violation of their human rights.

Sixteen out of a panel of 17 judges at the Strasbourg-based court ruled that prisoners must be given a possibility of release and an opportunity to have their sentences reviewed.

The panel was considering a case filed by three British men serving life sentences for murder, including Jeremy Bamber, who was convicted of killing five members of his own family in 1985.

The ruling must now be considered by the U.K. government, which in 2003 abolished a provision allowing prisoners' life sentences to be reviewed after 25 years.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said he "profoundly disagrees" with the Strasbourg ruling.

Based on reporting by AFP, dpa, and BBC