Lawyers were not allowed to see Bakhtiyar Hajiyev

Baku/29.01.23/Turan: On January 28, lawyers Zibeyda Sadigova and Elchin Sadigov were denied a meeting with public activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev in the Baku detention center, who has been on a hunger strike for the 21st day demanding his release.

The refusal to meet was motivated by "disinfection work" in the pre-trial detention center.

Director of the human rights organization "Protection Line" Rufat Safarov expressed concern for the health and life of Hajiyev.

“Lawyers were not allowed to see Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. This means that there will be no information about him for two days,” Safarov wrote on Facebook.

He pointed to the authorities' disregard for Hajiyev's legitimate demands.
The human rights activist also complained about the indifference of society.
"Reactions in the international plane are also not adequate or weak," Safarov said. In such a situation, in his opinion, Gadzhiev "is getting closer to death every day."

At the same time, he recalled that Gadzhiev, in his appeal from the pre-trial detention center, had already stated that at any moment he could go on a “dry hunger strike” in order to put an end to his torment.

The Penitentiary Service could not be reached for comment.

* Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was detained on December 9 on charges of hooliganism and contempt of court. On the same day, the Khatai District Court arrested him for 1 month and 20 days. On December 15, Hajiyev went on a hunger strike demanding his release. On December 28, he ended his hunger strike after persistent calls from the public and family members. However, on January 9, he resumed his hunger strike after the appeal court refused to release him and continues to this day. 

On January 21, the court extended Hajiyev's arrest for another 1 month. ---03B06---