Bakhtiar Hajiyev continues hunger strike in jail

Baku/17.12.22/Turan: Activist Bakhtiar Hajiyev continues his hunger strike in the Baku pre-trial detention center-1 demanding release from custody and termination of his criminal prosecution on far-fetched charges. This was announced by his lawyer Agil Laidj, who met with Hajiyev on December 16.

The defender conveyed to Hajiyev an urgent request of a group of members of the public to stop the hunger strike. However, the activist, thanking for the support, emphasized that he intends to continue the action until he is released.

In turn, Rufat Safarov, executive director of the human rights organization "Line of Defense", told Turan that Hajiyev has no complaints about conditions of his detention and treatment yet. However, after being taken into custody, he still has to contact his relatives by phone.

Note that a group of activists are conducting a public campaign in defense of Hajiyev, Safarov further said.

In particular, meetings with representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations are expected in order to inform them about the fabricated criminal case against Hajiyev. On December 16, Safarov and his lawyer were received at the Belgian Embassy.

Besides, it is planned to hold a hunger strike in solidarity with Hajiyev.

To remind, the head of the Institute of Public Policy, Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, was detained on December 9 and charged with hooliganism and contempt of court. On the same day, the Khatai district court of Baku took Hajiyev into custody for a month and 20 days. The defense appealed this decision, and Hajiyev himself promised to declare an indefinite hunger strike if the court does not satisfy the complaint. 

On December 15, the Court of Appeal dismissed Hajiyev's complaint, and at the meeting he stated that he had gone on a hunger strike in the morning demanding his release. -06B-