On the proposal of the investigating authority, the Khatai District Court extended the arrest of public activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev for another two months – until June 28.
This was announced by the lawyer of the activist, also Bakhtiyar Hajiyeva.
According to him, Hajiyev himself and the defense expressed their disagreement with the court’s decision. This decision will be appealed.
** Bakhtiar Hajiyev was arrested on December 9 last year 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. He stopped his hunger strike on December 28 after persistent calls from his family members and the public. But on January 9, after the Court of Appeal refused to release him from custody, he resumed his hunger strike, which continues to this day.
On January 21, the court extended Hajiyev’s sentence for another month, and on February 23, Khatai court extended the term for another 2 months – till April 28.
The courts did not satisfy numerous petitions of lawyers to change Hajiyev’s extreme measure of restraint to house arrest or release on bail before the start of the judicial investigation.
On February 28, on the 51st day Hajiyev stopped his hunger strike.
Representatives of the State Department, the US Senate, the European Union, the Council of Europe and a number of international NGOs have repeatedly called for Hajiyev’s release from custody.