Bakhtiyar Hajiyev is a democracy activist, former parliamentary candidate, and graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has been repeatedly subjected to politically motivated harassment and prosecution in connection with his human rights advocacy and criticism of the authorities. In May 2011, Hajiyev was convicted of draft evasion and sentenced to two years imprisonment. In April 2022, Hajiyev was kidnapped near his home in Baku, allegedly by the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry representatives, in retaliation for his criticism of Azerbaijan’s Minister of Internal Affairs.

On December 9, 2022, Azerbaijani officials arrested Bakhtiyar Hajiyev for hooliganism and contempt of court in connection with civil case against him. Hajiyev pled not guilty to the charges and claimed he was targeted with repression because of his recent pro-democracy activism. After his arrest Hajiyev went on a fifty-day hunger strike leading to a sharp deterioration in his health. A week after Hajiyev announced a dry hunger strike, intimate photos and messages stolen from Hajiyev’s Facebook account were leaked in an apparent attempt to defame him and other activists and journalists he was communicating with.

In June and November 2023, the investigation indicted Bakhtiyar Hajiyev with additional criminal code charges.

As of June 6, 2024, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes is set to hear the criminal case against Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. 

On June 17, 2024, the penitentiary service allowed Hajiyev to undergo a medical examination in a private clinic at the expense of his family.