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 Reporters without Borders Organization urges the Azerbaijani authorities to release Hajiev immediately and to drop the charges against him, “Turan” informs.

Reporters without Borders official website informs that the organization calls on the government to respect the international conventions that it has ratified by respecting freedom of expression.

A graduate of Harvard and a former opposition candidate, Hajiev has complained of being a victim of a politically-motivated trial linked to his online activities. In November 2010, he posted on Facebook videos on social networks in which he condemned the results of legislative elections.

During yesterday’s hearing, Hajiev was allowed to take a seat next to his lawyers. Judge Emin Akhundov permitted a small amount of video footage to be taken but otherwise banned all forms of recording during the session. Hajiev’s request for bail was turned down. A request for all charges to be dropped was not even examined by the court.

Hajiev, whose trial began on 19 April, complained of being the victim of repeated violence while held in prison and of being threatened with rape. The judge however refused to call witnesses over the conditions of his detention.