The U.S. embassy in Baku made a statement with respect to the arrest of and physical pressure on youth activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev.

“U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza and the U.S. embassy closely follow the report on detainment of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev in Gandja on March 4, specifically, the reports about insulting him and depriving him of legal advice. We urge the Azerbaijani government to observe the rule of law, conduct a relevant process, as well as under the Azerbaijani legislation secure all the rights of Hajiyev as a defendant, including the right to legal advice and medical aid, if needed,” reads the March 7 statement of the U.S. embassy in Baku.

Currently, the embassy keeps in touch with relevant structures of the Azerbaijani government to obtain information on the case initiated against Hajiev and his detainment.

“We will also closely follow the cases of other youth activists arrested recently,” reads the statement of the embassy.

Three youth activists were arrested during a month.

Jabbar Savalan was arrested on February 5 on charges of illegal drug possession. Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, who was arrested on March 4, is accused of draft dodging. Dayanat Babayev was convicted to 11 days of administrative arrest on charges of public order violation.

However, the local democratic public believes that all the three young people have been arrested on political grounds.