2023-07-07 08:46:53
On July 6, the Baku Court of Appeal heard the appeal of human rights activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev.
According to the information provided by lawyer Agil Layyy, the appeal was related to the extension of the detention measure for human rights activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev for another month (until July 28) based on the request of the Khatai District Court investigative body of Baku on June 22.
The second instance court did not satisfy the appeal.
The lawyer noted that human rights activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev also participated in the trial. He said that his health is normal.
Agil Lajic said that he will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
The investigative body made a submission to the court to extend the pretrial detention measure for one more month in connection with bringing new charges against Hajiyev.
Lawyer Rovshana Rahimli told Voice of America that Hajiyev called the accusations against him fictitious and made to order.
Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was arrested on December 9 last year on charges of hooliganism and contempt of court.
On December 15, Hajiyev started a hunger strike demanding his release. He ended his hunger strike on December 28 after persistent calls from members of the public and family members. However, on January 9, after the Court of Appeal rejected his release from prison, he resumed his hunger strike. 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 with 192 (Illegal entrepreneurship), 193 (False entrepreneurship), 320.1 (Forgery for the purpose of using a license or other official document), 320.2 (with -use of false documents), brought new charges under articles 206.1 (Smuggling).
Lawyers told Voice of America that the charges are related to Bakhtiyar Hajiyev’s activity as a public and human rights defender.
“The new accusations are the accusations in NGO cases. Allegedly, Bakhtiyar Hajiyev received grants and did not spend them as intended. Bakhtiyar Hajiyev does not accept the accusations. He stated that the charges are related to his public and human rights defender activities. These accusations show the main nature of the persecution”, said lawyer Elchin Sadigov.
The court has made decisions on the extension of the pre-trial detention measure on Hajiyev at different times.
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 Bakhtiyar Hajiyev from prison.
Voice of America
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