September 3, 2009

A row has erupted in Azerbaijan over the arrest of two bloggers after they posted a video on YouTube of a donkey giving a press conference.

The donkey explains the benefits of life in Azerbaijan and praises the state for its positive approach to donkeys. While the German-speaking donkey is talking, a question superimposed on the video asks "what about the people's rights?"

However, most Azerbaijanis saw the video as satirising the Government and its press conferences, seen by many as propaganda exercises.

The bloggers, Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, were arrested in July, soon after the release of their video.

They were held on charges following a scuffle in a restaurant. The pair face up to five years in jail.

The men say their arrest is unfair and their lawyer has claimed the arrests were politically motivated. Hajizade and Milli claim they were the victims of an unprovoked attack in the restaurant.

Authorities counter that their arrests have no political motivation.

Ali Hasnov, who is a senior adviser to President Ilham Aliyev, said in a statement: "People are not arrested in Azerbaijan because of political activity."

The trial of the men is scheduled for this month.

Concerns have been voiced across Europe over the arrests, with several groups pointing to a lack of freedom of expression in the the state, which formed following the dismantling of the Soviet republic.

The arrest of the pair has seen the popularity of the video skyrocket.