ctrp318 Beaten and Arrested, Videobloggers in Azerbaijan

Emin and Adnan were having dinner in downtown restaurant in Baku over the summer, when suddenly the two video bloggers were attacked, later wound up in jail, and they remain behind bars today awaiting trial for the charge of “hooliganism”.
What happened in that restaurant that night? Who would be targetting video bloggers and grassroots youth acitivists in Azerbaijan? What is the situation for a journalist, blogger or a citizen reporter in that nation?

My guest is Azeri blogger Ali Novruzov, a friend of both Emin and Adnan who was among the first to hear what had happened. He has written and continues to write about their case and joins me in this podcast to discuss this issue.

bmtv31 Long and Boring, Yet Important

A vlog from a man in his bathrobe at four in the afternoon. My two topics of earth shattering importance: 1- The vlogger foundation. Or something like that, which is an idea I need help developing. 2- socially conscious ad network links: evilvlog insanefilms Drinking Mochas Makes my Kidneys Feel Better

Flew Past The Big Apple

I’m just in off the KLM flight from Amsterdam. Badly in need of sleep, and what better place to sleep then the bed which I basically grew up sleeping on, not including the new-er mattress.

Before I head off to jet-lag-sleep-land, I wanted to mention something I noticed as the tanks rolled through Bangkok earlier this week: Josh Wolf, the very active citizen journalist, who you may have heard on Democracy Now last week, is heading back to jail. Once again the authorities want him silenced and used as an example for all citizen journalists to be afraid when it comes to doing their work. Josh gets my utmost respect for the way he has gone to jail and does not run from the idea of having to go back. Myself I imagine I would be finding ways to fly off to some safe haven country somewhere, out of fear of incarseration.

So watch his video, and like the man says… talk about this on your blog, at work, etc. Spread the word and do not let such battles go unnoticed.