Defense called on the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan to acquit Bakhtiyar Hajiyev

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev

On November 5, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan heard the cassation appeal against the verdict of public activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. According to lawyer Elchin Sadigov, the defense asked the court to acquit Hajiyev on all counts and release the activist.

"Charges were brought against Bakhtiyar Hajiyev based on an anonymous email sent to the police, alleging that he was receiving grants from Western organizations and planning to carry out a coup d'état in Azerbaijan. But according to Azerbaijani law, information from an anonymous source cannot be the subject of an investigation. Thus, illegally obtained evidence cannot be used to accuse and prosecute anyone criminally," Sadigov said.

According to him, the judicial panel of the Supreme Court postponed the announcement of the decision. The judges explained this by saying they needed additional time to consider the numerous arguments of the defense.

The next court session is scheduled for November 18.

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, known for his criticism of the Azerbaijani authorities, was arrested in December 2023.

He was charged under eight articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Specifically, Hajiyev is accused of illegal entrepreneurship, legalization of criminally obtained money or other property, smuggling, tax evasion, hooliganism, contempt of court, and document forgery. Hajiyev denied all charges.

On December 28, 2024, the state prosecutor demanded that Bakhtiyar Hajiyev be found guilty and sentenced to 11 years in prison. On January 13, 2025, the court sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment.