U.S. Helsinki Commission Renews Calls For Bakhtiyar Hajiyev’s Humane Treatment And Human Rights

Washington D.C./21.02.23/Turan:  For the second time in less than a week, the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, better known as the Helsinki Commission, has urged Azerbaijani authorities to ensure leading activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev’s humane treatment and human rights, Turan's Washington correspondent reports.

The latest move came on Monday after the Baku Court of Appeals rejected the request for a transfer to house arrest for Mr. Hajiyev.

“We are absolutely appalled at the continued unwarranted detention and mistreatment of Azerbaijani civil activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, who has been imprisoned on trumped up charges and is facing a precipitous decline in his health as he continues his hunger strike," the Commission's Chair Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-2) and Co-Chair Sen. Ben Cardin (MD) said in a joint statement.

"His sentencing by the Azerbaijani regime is not only completely disproportionate to the allegations raised against him, but also not the first time he has been harassed, detained, and subjected to abuse as a result of his justifiable activism," the authors nored.

The statement went on to add, “Azerbaijan has been an important U.S. partner and crucial for energy opportunities in the world, but our international relationships rely in no small part on the mutual recognition of basic principles of human rights. This is true for Mr. Hajiyev as well as numerous other political prisoners."

“We join our colleagues in the Administration and in Europe in urging Azerbaijani authorities to ensure Mr. Hajiyev’s humane treatment and human rights, and return to its internal and external obligations under the Helsinki Principles," reads the statement.

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 44 days.

Last Saturday, the Helsinki Commission in a tweet slammed Hajiyev's detention and mistreatment, calling it "a gross injustice and sharp violation of its basic human rights obligations".

Separately, co-chair Ben Cardin 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," he noted.

Alex Raufoglu