Bakhtiyar Hajiyev intends to go on hunger strike

Baku/13.12.22/Turan: Consideration of Hajiyev's appeal was scheduled for 15:00 on December 15 at the Baku Court of Appeal, chaired by Judge Zeki Babayev, Rufat Safarov, executive director of the “Defense Line” NGO, told Turan.

“If the complaint is rejected and Hajiyev remains in custody, he intends to go on an indefinite hunger strike,” Safarov said.

Hajiyev’s case will cause serious international problems for the Azerbaijani authorities. “It will cause a big crisis. I hope that the authorities will learn from the previous sad experience, when hunger strikes of activists in against far-fetched criminal cases increased pressure on Baku from international centers of power,” Safarov said. He called on the authorities to release Hajiyev and other political prisoners.

Earlier, the US State Department and the EU expressed concern about the arrest of Hajiyev, who called on the authorities to release Hajiyev. The same call was made by the international human rights organization Amnesty International.

On December 9, the Khatai Court of Baku arrested public activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev for a period of investigation for 1 month and 20 days. The activist was charged with hooliganism and contempt of court. He can face up to 3 years in prison. ---03В06---