Three Baku Demonstrators Given Jail Terms

Blogger Emin Milli was sentenced to 15 days in prison.

Three people who were involved in a January 26 protest in the Azerbaijan capital, Baku, have been given jail sentences.

Activists Abulfaz Qurbanli and Turkel Azeturk were sentenced to 13 days, while Emin Milli was given 15 days.

Milli, a blogger and opposition activist, previously spent 17 months in prison after making and posting a satirical video critical of the government.

In addition, 18 protesters were given fines of from 300 to 2,500 manats ($382 to $3,185).

Gozel Bayramli, deputy head of the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, was fined 2,000 manats and youth activist Turgut Qambar, who is the son of opposition Musavat party head Isa Qambar, was find 2,500 manats as organizers of the protest.

Investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova was fined 400 manats.

The January 26 rally was held to protest the use of force by police against demonstrators in the town of Ismayili on January 24.