Azerbaijani activist calls for the release of all political prisoners

Social activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, held in a pre-trial detention center in Baku, addressed the leadership of the 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), which is being held in Azerbaijan. He asked to raise with the country's leadership the issue of releasing people imprisoned for political reasons and for religious beliefs.

“Dozens of journalists, bloggers and civil activists in Azerbaijan are being held in prison as part of a criminal case initiated for political reasons and trumped-up charges. At the same time, the Azerbaijani government claims that people in the country are not persecuted against their will. Official Baku claims that people are equal before the law and all fundamental freedoms are fully guaranteed,” Hajiyev noted.

Bakhtiyar Gadzhiev was detained on December 9, 2022 on charges of hooliganism and contempt of court. Then he was also charged with illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, and smuggling. The reason for the arrest and charges is punishment for criticizing the authorities, Bakhtiyar Gadzhiev is convinced. Human rights activists recognized him as a political prisoner.

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