Charges against Bakhtiyar Hajiyev have been tightened

Baku/16.03.23/Turan: On June 16, new charges were brought against public activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, his lawyer Elchin Sadigov told Turan news agency. In particular, according to him, Hajiyev is charged with committing actions under Articles 192 (illegal entrepreneurship), 193 (false entrepreneurship), 320.1 (falsification of documents), 320.2 (intentional use of false documents) and 206.1 (smuggling) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. The new articles of accusation are related to Hajiyev's human rights activities, the lawyer noted.

These charges are very similar to the charges in the sensational criminal case against a number of local and foreign NGOs launched in 2014, the lawyer noted. In particular, according to him, the investigation claims that "Bakhtiar Hajiyev received grants and did not use them for their intended purpose."

"Bakhtiar rejects these accusations and connects them with his public and human rights work. He believes that the new charges put forward show the true reason for his criminal prosecution, namely, punishment for human rights activities," the lawyer said.

According to the new charges, Hajiyev may face a prison sentence of up to six years or more.

*Bakhtiar Hajiyev was arrested on December 9 last year on charges of hooliganism and contempt of court. On the same day, the Khatai District Court sentenced him to 1 month and 20 days in prison.

On January 9, 2023, the Court of Appeal refused his release and he resumed his hunger strike. On January 21, the court extended the term of his arrest for a month, and on February 23 – for another two months - on April 28.

February 28 - on the 51st day of the hunger strike, Hajiyev stopped his hunger strike.

Representatives of the US State Department, the US Senate, the European Union, the Council of Europe and a number of international NGOs have repeatedly demanded Hajiyev's release from prison.--- 03B06----