It turns out that Soros funded the Azerbaijani Armed Forces – new charges against B. Hajiyev

Baku/22.08.23/Turan: The investigation is preparing new, fabricated charges against Bakhtiar Hajiyev, the head of the human rights organization "Line of Protection" Rufat Safarov announced in his  video message. In particular, the investigation is trying to distort the essence of the assistance provided by Bakhtiyar Hajiyev to the soldiers of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during the 44-day war. So, attempts are being made to accuse Bakhtiar of appropriating part of the collected aid.

"Bakhtiar Hajiyev strongly condemns such statements. The financial sources of the collected aid and its delivery to the front were absolutely transparent. The provision of such assistance was coordinated with the heads of the State Security Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. One of these days Bakhtiar Hajiyev will make a statement through his lawyers," Rufat Safarov said.

Instead of presenting Bakhtiar and his team to the state award and expressing gratitude to him, new false accusations are being made against him. "Some even claim that Bakhtiar received funds from George Soros to help the military. Allegedly, he gave part of the funds received from Soros to the military, and appropriated part," Safarov said.

"It is a pity that Head of State Ilham Aliyev and Interior Minister Vilayat Eyvazov continue to take revenge on political prisoner Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. The authorities should refrain from such a vindictive and hostile attitude towards their critics. Leaders acting on behalf of the state should not treat citizens in this way," Rufat Safarov believes.

In turn, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has not yet responded to a request regarding the above.

*Bakhtiar Hajiyev was arrested on December 9, 2022 on charges of hooliganism and contempt of court. On December 15, Hajiyev began a hunger strike demanding his release and stopped it on December 28 after persistent appeals from members of the public. On January 9, he resumed his hunger strike when the Baku Court of Appeal rejected his request for release. Hajiyev stopped his hunger strike on the 51st day of the hunger strike.

On June 16 of this year, the investigative body charged Bakhtiyar Hajiyev under Articles : 192 (Illegal entrepreneurship), 193 (False entrepreneurship), 320.1 ( falsification, For the purpose of use of the  license or other official document granting rights or releasing from duties)of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, 320.2 (deliberate use of forged documents), 206.1 (smuggling) and new charges have been brought. The new charges are based on the claim that Bakhtiar Hajiyev received grants and did not spend them for their intended purpose.

Representatives of the US State Department, the US Helsinki Commission, the European Union, the Council of Europe and a number of international NGOs have repeatedly demanded the release of Bakhtiar Hajiyev from prison. ---03---