Azerbaijani Poets" Trial in Iran Scheduled for August 7

On Saturday at a meeting in Tabriz, Iran the arrested young Azerbaijani poets Farid Hussein and Shahriyar Hajizadeh met with

their families. According to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullaev, the meeting was attended by the Vice-Consul of Azerbaijan Nariman Orudzhaliev, who two days earlier first met with the arrested after taking them into custody at the beginning of May.

 Abdullaev, with reference to the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Tabriz  also reported that the trial of the young poets was appointed on 7 August.

 Previously, the young people told the Vice Consul that they are accused of illegally crossing the border, although they came to this country with special invitation to a literary festival.

 Recall that Farid Hussein and Shahriyar Hajizadeh were kidnapped in Tabriz in early May on the way from Tehran. Iran did not make official statements about it. However, Iranian media reported that the writers were accused of spying.

Official Baku at the highest level strictly required release of its citizens. However, the Iranian media hinted at the fact that the writers could go free if the pro-Iranian activists imprisoned in Azerbaijan, including some journalists and religious leaders, are released.