 U.S. Embassy called for release of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. The U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan expressed concern over the arrest of public activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev and called on the authorities to release him. We are very concerned about the arrest and detention of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev and the reports of his health problems. We continue to call on the authorities to release him as soon as possible. We also call on the authorities to release all other persons considered political prisoners. The U.S. Embassy said in response to a request from the Azerbaijani Voice of America service. The United States calls for the release of all political prisoners around the world and we call on others to join us. The Embassy's press service said in a statement, Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was detained on December the 9th on charges of hooliganism and contempt of court. On the same day, the Katai District Court arrested him for a period of one month and 20 days. On December the 15th, Hajiyev went on hunger strike demanding his release. On December the 28th, he stopped his hunger strike after persistent appeals from the public and family members. However, on January the 9th, he resumed his hunger strike after the Court of Appeal refused to release him and he continues it to this day. On January the 21st, the court extended the term of Hajiyev's arrest for another one month.