Baku Appeals Court held a preparatory hearing on the appeal by prisoner of conscience Bakhtiyar Hajiyev against the March 29th decision by Garadagh District Court. Judge Mirzali Abbasov decided to appoint the case for consideration on May 21st.
Hajiyev applied to Garadagh District Court for early release as he had served half of his term, but his request was denied.
On May 18th 2011, Nizami District Court of Ganja city sentenced Hajiyev to 2 years in-jail under Article 321.1 (evasion of military service). The July 6th 2011 appeal against this decision was denied. On December 6th 2011, the Supreme Court upheld the decision.
Prior to this Hajiyev had requested early release as he had served two-thirds of his prison term. On December 29th 2011 the court rejected the request. On February 27th 2011, the Court of Appeals upheld this decision.