The Ganja City Appeals Court denied Bakhtiyar Hajiyev's appeal, upholding the two-year prison sentence issued by the court of first instance.
(IRFS/IFEX) – On 6 July 2011, the Ganja City Appeals Court heard an appeal filed by jailed youth activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. Judge Chingiz Mammadov presided over the hearing.
Hajiyev’s lawyer, Intigam Amirov, told IRFS that the court denied the appeal, upholding the two-year prison sentence issued by the court of first instance.
Amirov said that they were not surprised with the decision and will take the issue to the Supreme Court.
BACKGROUND:
The criminal case against Hajiyev was launched in late January. At the time, the activist signed a statement promising not to leave Ganja city. In late February, his pre-trial detention was replaced with a release under police oversight. The Ganja City Court sentenced the youth to two years in prison on 18 May, after he was charged with dodging his military service.
It is widely recognized that Hajiyev was arrested for his activity on social networking sites and his support of the 11 March Great People’s Day campaign.
