A London-based Amnesty International organization called on the Azerbaijani authorities to stop harassing civil society activists, after a youth activist and parliamentary candidate who revealed election violations was detained at the country’s border.

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was detained November 18 on the Azerbaijani-Georgia border and held overnight at a military drafting centre before being released, reads the statement on Amnesty International’s official website.

“Bakhtiyar Hajiyev’s arrest has all the hallmarks of the harassment and intimidation the Azerbaijani authorities all too often resort too in respect of government critics,” said John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Deputy Programme Director at Amnesty International.

According to him, Hajiyev was doubly excused military service being a registered student and a parliamentary candidate.

“There are fears that Bakhtiyar Hajiyev could be forcibly drafted into the army. The Azerbaijani authorities have used forcible drafting against government critics on previous occasions, including against editor Eynulla Fatullayev, who Amnesty International considers to be a prisoner of conscience,” the statement reads.