The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) condemned the Azerbaijani authorities for bringing new politically motivated accusations against well-known public activist and human rights activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. The applicants called on the country's leadership to release him.

The statement notes that the new accusations against Hajiyev related to receiving grants from the European Endowment for Democracy once again proves the political motives for the persecution of the man by the ruling authoritarian regime. The law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan have regarded the receipt of grants from Western donors for the implementation of public projects as illegal business, money laundering and smuggling.

“The new accusations against Hajiyev are a serious signal of another round of increased repression against the remnants of civil society and independent voices in Azerbaijan,” said Emin Huseynov, executive director of the ISBR. In his opinion, European institutions such as the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament should immediately send an appeal to the Azerbaijani authorities about the inadmissibility of political charges against Hajiyev and demand his immediate release.

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was arrested in December 2022. He was charged with hooliganism and resisting the police. Official representatives from around the world have repeatedly demanded his release.