'Gross Injustice' — U.S. Helsinki Commission Slams Detention and Mistreatment Of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev

Washington D.C./19.02.23/Turan:  Azerbaijan' continued detention and mistreatment of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev "is a gross injustice and sharp violation of its basic human rights obligations" the bipartisan U.S. Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, said in a Saturday night tweet, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"U.S. policy is and remains that such flagrant violations will not be ignored or left unpunished," reads the tweet.

Hajiyev was arrested on Dec 9 for alleged “hooliganism” and “disrespect for court”, claims that he strongly  rejects. The activist has been on a hunger strike in jail for over 40 days.

Senator Ben Cardin, co-chair of the Helsinki Commission, recently called on the Azerbaijani government to immediately release Bakhtiyar Hajiyev.

"We can and will hold accountable all those who seek to undermine human rights," Cardin noted last week.

Alex Raufoglu