Today, September 1, Baku Appeals Court heard an appeal against the July 20th 2011 decision of Sabail District Court on the lawsuit filed by imprisoned youth activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev against General Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan. Hajiyev claims that he was subjected to torture during the investigation of his case. Judge Gail Mammadov presided over the hearing.
The hearing was closed to the public, without any reason being given. Media representatives and members of the defence committee for the youth activist’s rights were not allowed into the court.
The hearing was held without Hajiyev’s lawyers there. The two-hour process was concluded with the ruling to reject the appeal. After the hearing, Hajiyev’s brother Vugar Hajiyev told IRFS that he learned the decision at the court’s access control point.
BACKGROUND
The hearing was held without Hajiyev’s lawyers there. The two-hour process was concluded with the ruling to reject the appeal. After the hearing, Hajiyev’s brother Vugar Hajiyev told IRFS that he learned the decision at the court’s access control point.
BACKGROUND
The criminal case against Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was launched at the end of January, 2011. At that time, he signed a statement of commitment not to leave Ganja, a city in north Azerbaijan. At the end of February his pre-trial detention was replaced with release under police bail.
Ganja City Court sentenced youth activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev to 2 years in jail on May 18, 2011, charging him with evasion of 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.