Lawyer: “The court knows well what suffering Haji Valiyev has endured”

Haji Valiyev

The lawyer of Haji Valiyev, chairman of the “Young Veterans” Public Union, who is currently held in Kurdakhani prison and whose condition is reported to be severe, has again applied to the court for his release under house arrest. Haji Valiyev is a participant in the Second Karabakh War.

The petition for Haji Valiyev’s release under house arrest was considered on May 14, 2025, at the Khatai District Court but was denied.

His lawyer, Aqil Layich, announced on his Facebook page that this time all medical documents requested by the court were attached to the petition.

According to Aqil Layich, Haji Valiyev lost one eye due to a shrapnel wound and has only 3% vision in the other eye. He noted that the Khatai District Court, which handled the previous case, did not grant house arrest.

“That same Khatai District Court that shortly released under house arrest the head of the 'Melissa Group' company, which demolished people’s homes. That same court knows well what suffering Haji Valiyev has endured,” wrote A. Layich.

Layich also added that in the Baku Investigation Detention Center where Valiyev is held, “there is practically no doctor to examine him.”

He recalled that after an argument between Valiyev and a doctor who told him “to hell with you being a veteran,” his client was placed in a punishment cell ("karser") for three days. Furthermore, the “Kapital Bank” card, where social payments allocated due to Valiyev’s disability are transferred, has been blocked.

According to the lawyer, this restriction was imposed not by the investigative authority but by the bank, and no reason has been disclosed. “Kapital Bank” told Meydan TV that Aqil Layich’s request is currently under review. According to legislation, the results of such investigations are bank secrets and can only be shared with the authorized representative of the client or, with written consent, third parties. For this to happen, the cardholder’s authorized representative must contact the bank directly.

Haji Valiyev was detained on March 31, 2025, by officers of the Baku City Main Police Department. On April 1, 2025, a 22-day pretrial detention was imposed on him.

He is accused under Articles 221.3 (hooliganism with use of weapons or weapon-like objects causing force to the victim or damage to property) and 186.1 (intentional destruction or damage to property causing significant loss) of the Criminal Code.

Valiyev denies all charges brought against him.

Known for highlighting problems faced by families of the fallen, veterans, and war participants, Valiyev also criticized officials.

On March 18, 2025, he publicized police violence against a group of veterans engaged in street trading in the Yasamal district.

During the May 14, 2025 court hearing, Valiyev stated he was arrested due to “his public activism, raising social welfare issues of martyr families and war participants before state bodies, and criticizing officials.”

According to available information, on May 12, 2025, Haji Valiyev was admitted to the No. 1 Republican Psychiatric Hospital.