Supreme Court of Azerbaijan Upholds Bakhtiyar Hajiyev's Sentence

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev

The consideration of the cassation appeal against the verdict of public activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev concluded at the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan on November 18. The highest instance upheld the verdict without change. As previously reported by lawyer Elchin Sadigov, the defense requested the court to acquit Hajiyev on all charges and release the activist.

"The charges against Bakhtiyar Hajiyev were 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. However, according to the legislation of Azerbaijan, information from an anonymous source cannot be the subject of an investigation. Thus, evidence obtained illegally cannot be used to accuse and prosecute anyone criminally," Sadigov said.

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 forgery of a document. Hajiyev rejected 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.