Today the Ganja City Nizami District Court heard the preliminary hearing on the case of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, the youth activist charged with evading military service. Judge Emin Akhundov presided over the hearing. Bakhtiyar Hajiyev`s brother Vugar Hajiyev reported Objective TV.
Turan Information Agency spoke with Bakhtiyar’s brother, Vugar, who reported that Bakhtiyar’s lawyer had filed a motion for his release for the duration of the hearing, in order to allow him to sit with his lawyers, on the grounds that he does not pose any danger to the public. The Judge granted the motion.
Then the lawyers filed a motion to throw out the criminal case against Bakhtiyar Hajiyev.
In addition, the lawyer sent an inquiry to the Constitutional Court, asking them to define the nature of alternative (ie non-military) service, as set out in the Constitution.
The judge did not consider the motions. The preliminary hearing will continue tomorrow.
Hajiyev, a parliamentary candidate in the November 2010 parliamentary elections, was first detained on 17 November, 2010 when he tried to cross into Georgia via the Gazakh region’s Girmizi Korpu checkpoint. He was travelling to Georgia to continue his education. That time, Hajiyev was set free after 24 hours, as he still had immunity as a parliamentarian candidate. At present, he is facing criminal charges under Article 321 of Criminal Code, for evading military service. It is widely thought that Hajiyev was arrested for his activity on social networking sites and his support of the March 11 Great People’s Day campaign.
Then the lawyers filed a motion to throw out the criminal case against Bakhtiyar Hajiyev.
In addition, the lawyer sent an inquiry to the Constitutional Court, asking them to define the nature of alternative (ie non-military) service, as set out in the Constitution.
The judge did not consider the motions. The preliminary hearing will continue tomorrow.
Hajiyev, a parliamentary candidate in the November 2010 parliamentary elections, was first detained on 17 November, 2010 when he tried to cross into Georgia via the Gazakh region’s Girmizi Korpu checkpoint. He was travelling to Georgia to continue his education. That time, Hajiyev was set free after 24 hours, as he still had immunity as a parliamentarian candidate. At present, he is facing criminal charges under Article 321 of Criminal Code, for evading military service. It is widely thought that Hajiyev was arrested for his activity on social networking sites and his support of the March 11 Great People’s Day campaign.