Bakhtiyar Hajiyev claims he was physically pressured by the BCPD /UPDATED/

Baku/09.03.22/Turan: Public activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was subjected to moral and physical pressures at Baku City Police Department (BCPD).

He informed about this after he was released from the department late in the evening of 9 March.

According to Hajiyev, he was handcuffed and taken to the Baku police department after being detained in front of the Interior Ministry.

"On the way, they received an order via radio to take me upstairs to the police building, bending my head and beating me. They did so, videotaping everything. And in this condition they took me to the head of the main police department of Baku city," Hajiyev told journalists.

The reason for such treatment was that he posted a poster on the window of his car with the inscription "Vilyaat Eyvazov is in charge of criminals, nor investigates complaints of citizens".

"Yes, I believe that the Interior Minister is in the custody of criminals. For my 14-15 complaints are not investigated. The police tell me that 'yes we do not investigate your complaints because you are Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, you are an activist', and we will investigate complaints against you," Hajiyev said.

He also said that despite the fact that 5 months ago he was hooliganized at the Yasamal district court, now they want to make him look guilty.

Hajiyev said he had been insulted and threatened by the city police leadership.

"After handcuffing me, they deliberately raised my hands to hurt me. They kept me on my knees for some time, beating me. The chief threatened to take my trousers off...", Hajiyev said.

He also refuted claims by the Interior Ministry press service that he allegedly tried to set himself on fire in front of the Interior Ministry.

"Yes, they drew up a report that I allegedly threatened to set fire to the MIA, central department store, myself. They found a two-litre bottle of petrol in my car and made it all up. My car has a faulty fuel gauge, and I always take petrol with me to avoid being left on the road. Allegations that I wanted to set myself, the MIA, central department store on fire are absurd. With 2 litres of petrol, you cannot set those buildings on fire", Hajiyev said.-06B-

2022 March 09 (Wednesday) 18:09:02

Can a  lawsuit be filed against Bahtiyar Hajiyev?  

Baku/09.03.22/Turan: Public activist Bahtiyar Hajiyev, who was detained on the afternoon of March 9, has not been released by 18 pm. After being detained in front of the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he was taken to the Baku Police Department, from where he did not leave by the specified time.

According to human rights activist Rufat Safarov, the detainee asked for a lawyer. 

Bahtiyar Hajiyev categorically denied police claims that he was about to commit self-immolation. 

Calling a lawyer may mean that a criminal case may be initiated against the activist and he needs legal support. -02/03B-

*   *   *

2022 March 09 (Wednesday) 16:28:40

Ministry of Internal Affairs on the detention of Bahtiyar Hajiyev /UPDATED/

Baku/09.03.22/Turan: Public activist Bahtiyar Hajiyev tried to set himself on fire in front of the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“On March 9, at about 2:30 pm, Bahtiyar Hajiyev, protesting against the investigation conducted on the basis of a complaint against him, drove up in his private car to the administrative building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Police officers approached him and said that parking was prohibited. Bahtiyar Hajiyev showed the fuel in the car and said that he would burn himself and the car. Therefore, the police officers were forced to intervene, opened the door and took the fuel from the car. Thus, the police prevented the incident,” the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

Hajiyev was taken to the relevant police department to find out the reasons for the protest. “Currently, the investigation is ongoing,” the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.—06B-

*   *   *

2022 March 09 (Wednesday) 15:39:32

Public activist Bahtiyar Hajiyev is detained

Baku/09.03.22/ Turan: On the afternoon of March 9, public activist Bahtiyar Hajiyev was detained in front of the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Police officers attacked the activist's private car, smashed the window of the car, forcibly dropped Hajiyev off the car, and took him to the  Ministry of Internal Affairs, Hajiyev wrote on his facebook page.

He also posted a video of the incident there. The footage shows that texts with the name of Interior Minister Vilayat Eyvazov are hanging on the side window of the car.

From the publication on Hajiyev's Facebook page, it can be concluded that the activist criticized the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the complicity of police officers in committing crimes and blackening innocent citizens.

In turn, human rights activist Rufat Safarov told Turan that Hajiyev was taken to the Main Police Department of Baku, he himself was also invited there.

The attempts to get comments from the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were futile.

Hajiyev is known for criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities. He had previously been subjected to harassment and pressure, administrative arrests more than once. Once he was also convicted on a criminal charge. -03B06-