Bakhtiyar Hajiyev’s condition is critical, he may die. After a meeting with his lawyers he was taken away in a wheelchair. This was reported to Turan News Agency by one of his lawyers Elchin Sadygov at noon on 20 February.

Lawyers Elchin Sadygov, Zibeyda Sadigova, Rovshana Rahimli and Shahla Humbatova visited Bakhtiyar Hajiyev at the penitentiary service hospital on Monday. They again asked the activist to end his hunger strike, which he has been on for 43 days, the last five days he has also refused water.

“However, he intends to keep the dry hunger strike until the end,” Sadygov said.

The activist complained to his lawyers about the inhumane treatment in the hospital. He was even worse than in the pre-trial detention facility. Thus, in the hospital he is not allowed to sleep. In a room of 6 sq. meters, guards ostentatiously eat, talk loudly, and turn on the TV set. All this has an extremely negative impact on Bakhtiyar’s condition and his complaints to the management of the Treatment facility remain unanswered, Elchin Sadygov said.

It was not possible to get a comment from the penitentiary service on this subject.

* Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was detained on 9 December on charges of hooliganism and contempt of court. On the same day, the Khatayi district court arrested him for 1 month and 20 days.

On December 15, Hajiyev went on hunger strike demanding his release. On December 28, he ended the hunger strike after persistent calls from the public and family members. On January 9, however, he resumed the hunger strike after an appeals court refused to release him and continues to this day.

On 21 January, the court extended Hajiyev’s arrest for another 1 month

Source: Turan News Agency