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Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, one of the Azerbaijani government's loudest critics, has been on hunger strike for 40 days. He has now stopped taking water.

In a [statement](https://www.state.gov/calling-for-the-release-of-bakhtiyar-hajiyev/) the week before, Price called for Hajiyev’s “expeditious release and for the release of all persons incarcerated for exercising their fundamental freedoms.” [Support Eurasianet](https://www.gofundme.com/f/independent-journalism-needs-your-support?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer): Help keep our journalism open to all, and influenced by none. On January 21, the court [prolonged](https://www.azadliq.org/a/bextiyar-haciyev-madde/32222152.html) his detention for another month. "As I have stated many times in the media and social media, I was contacted at the beginning of 2019 at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev. He has been in his post since 2006, prior to which he headed the State Customs Committee for 11 years. Hajiyev's lawyer Rovshana Rahimli [said](https://www.facebook.com/achiqazerbaycan/videos/904352280766955) following the court hearing that her client's health has deteriorated, he has lost about 16 kilograms, his pulse and blood pressure have dropped, his hands are shaking, and he is dizzy. He said he had been open in the past about his interactions with the government. Hajiyev connects his arrest to his political activism. [was arrested](https://eurasianet.org/prominent-activist-detained-following-us-sanctions-on-azerbaijani-official) in December on charges of hooliganism and contempt of court and sentenced to a month and 20 days of pre-trial detention. His first started on December 15 and lasted for 14 days. [said](https://www.turan.az/ext/news/2023/2/free/politics_news/en/1595.htm) in response to a question posed by a reporter from Azerbaijan's Turan news agency that authorities in Baku were "ultimately responsible for his welfare and his well-being." They filed the motion after he was [transferred](https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/bakhtiyar-hajiyev-still-on-hunger-strike/6958599.html) to the Treatment Center of the Penitentiary Service three days earlier against his will.