PACE rapporteurs condemn sentence of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev and demand his release
PACE co-rapporteur on monitoring Azerbaijan Lise Kristoffersen (Norway) and the general rapporteur on political prisoners Thorhildur Sunna Evarsdottir (Iceland) have expressed their deep concern over the sentencing of prominent Azerbaijani activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev.
‘We are deeply disturbed by the 13 January sentence of the Baku Court for Serious Crimes, which sentenced Mr Hajiyev to 10 years of imprisonment, confiscated his flat in Baku and the funds in his bank accounts, and banned him from engaging in educational activities upon his release. This sentence is unjust and disproportionate to the alleged offences,’ their statement reads.
Recall that Hajiyev was arrested on 9 December 2022 and initially charged with hooliganism and contempt of court. He was later charged with economic offences related to the alleged misuse of allocated subsidies. He has denied all these charges, calling them ‘completely fabricated’ and politically motivated. Human rights organisations consider him a political prisoner.
The 13 January verdict repeats ‘a disturbing trend of arbitrary arrests of government critics, civil society activists and human rights defenders through harassment and abuse of criminal law in violation of the rule of law,’ the statement further noted.
‘We call on the Azerbaijani authorities to review this decision in line with international human rights standards and immediately release Mr Hajiyev and all others who remain in detention in retaliation for their criticism of the government and/or their human rights activities,’ the rapporteurs stressed.
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