On May 23, LGBTQI+ rights activists and trans community members were detained in Baku, Azerbaijan. This article explores the events surrounding the arrests, the mistreatment endured by activists in police custody, and sheds light on the broader human rights situation for LGBTQI+ community in Azerbaijan.
On May 23, LGBTQI+ activists in Baku, Azerbaijan, gathered to protest against the recent arrests of several members of the trans community. The detentions occurred on May 22 following confrontations between the police and three trans women in Baku’s Khatai district, which were captured on videos that circulated widely on social media. In the footage, the trans women were seen being detained by the police after an altercation. According to a statement given to Meydan TV by one of the trans activists, the incident stemmed from the alleged disrespect and degradation of the trans women’s honour and dignity by the police.
Next day, on May 24, to demand the release of the detained community members, trans community and activists advocating for LGBTQI+ rights gathered in front of the 37th Police Department in Baku. Amongst the protesters were Ali Malikov, Javid Nabiyev from the Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance. They were there to show solidarity with the community and also observe the situation and document, and provide assistance when needed.
Shockingly, these activists were also subsequently detained by the police. Spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry told MeydanTV that, in total, seven individuals were detained at the protest, adding that two other people were initially detained on 22 May.
According to Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance, LGBTQI+ rights activists Javid Nabiyev, Ali Malikov, and two unidentified individuals were brought to the police department in handcuffs. Witnesses present at the scene reported that Javid Nabiyev faced difficulties during the process, and video evidence indicated the use of force during their detention.
After being kept for almost 18 hours, they were brought to the Khatai district court at noon on May 24. By the court the activists were released. Ali Malikov was fined 70 AZN under Article 510 for petty hooliganism, while Javid Nabiyev was fined 300 AZN under Article 206 for the unauthorised personal consumption of narcotics.
In their tweet, Malikov revealed that their detention involved physical contact, threats, and confinement in a small, airless room.
Although Malikov and fellow activist Javid Nabiyev were fined, and respectively be freed in the courtroom, they were not immediately released. Instead, they were forcefully returned to the cramped room where they had been held. The police allegedly pushed and hit them, exacerbating an already distressing situation. Malikov tearfully recounted enduring torture alongside other detainees throughout the day.
The police proceeded to release Ali and Javid, while others were detained for 15 administrative days. The police brought the released individuals face-to-face with those still detained, seemingly intending to traumatise both parties. Malikov interpreted this action as a deliberate attempt to instil fear and distress.
In their tweet, Malikov also revealed that their detention involved physical contact, threats, and confinement in a small, airless room. They recounted the presence of two other individuals – Aleksandra and Shabnam, one of whom appeared to have been subjected to sexual abuse.
Javid Nabiyev has also revealed a harrowing account of mistreatment and abuse endured at the hands of the Azerbaijani police on his Instagram post. He spoke out about his personal experiences of discrimination and violence, shedding light on the systemic prejudice faced by the LGBTQI+ community in the country.
He described a nightmarish night spent in police custody, marked by degrading and dehumanising treatment. Amongst the distressing experiences he recounted were witnessing police officers using napkins to avoid touching the same surfaces as LGBTQI+s, observing a fellow police officer being attacked by other officers, and being forced to prove his innocence by physically demonstrating the absence of a hidden razor under his tongue.
Javid Nabiyev further highlighted the violation of his rights, as he was subjected to medical tests without a court order, solely based on the misguided belief that being LGBTQI+ makes one a source of diseases. He was handcuffed as if he had committed a severe crime and was paraded around as objects of ridicule within the police department. Shockingly, police officers took pictures and videos of the activist to share with their friends, boasting about their detention of LGBTQI+s.
Azerbaijan’s treatment of LGBTQI+ community has drawn criticism on the international stage. The latest edition of ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map and Index, which benchmarks LGBTQI+ rights across Europe, ranked Azerbaijan at the bottom with a score of 2%. In their Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex People in Azerbaijan for 2022, released in February, ILGA-Europe highlighted the need for improved legal and policy measures to protect the rights of LGBTQI+s in the country.
Remember, it is important to respect and follow any guidelines or recommendations provided by local activists and organisations within Azerbaijan to ensure that actions taken align with their strategies and priorities. In this virtue, we kindly call on the international community to join us in solidarity by:
- calling on Azerbaijani authorities to conduct a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the excessive use of force by the police and ill-treatment, and hold those responsible accountable through fair and transparent judicial processes;
- sharing information about the arrests and mistreatment of LGBTQI+ activists in Azerbaijan with your network or in your affiliated institution, through various channels, such as social media, online platforms, and community networks. You can refer to social media accounts of Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance and Minority Azerbaijan, stay informed about ongoing developments.
- contacting your local government representatives, ambassadors, or consulates and express your concerns about the situation in Azerbaijan. Encourage them to raise the issue with the Azerbaijani government and advocate for the protection of LGBTQI+ rights.
On May 23rd, a group of LGBTQI+ rights activists and members of the trans community were apprehended in Baku, Azerbaijan. This article delves into the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the mistreatment endured by the activists while in police custody, and sheds light on the broader human rights situation faced by the LGBTQI+ community in Azerbaijan.
On May 23rd, LGBTQI+ activists in Baku, Azerbaijan, convened to protest against the recent detentions of several people from the trans community. These detentions took place on May 22nd following altercations between the police and three trans women in Baku’s Khatai district, which were extensively circulated on social media through videos. The videos depicted trans women being taken into custody by the police after the altercation. According to a statement provided to Meydan TV by one of the trans activists, the incident stemmed from alleged disrespect and degradation of the honor and dignity of the trans women by the police.
The following day, May 24th, in order to demand the release of the detained community members, trans community members and activists advocating for LGBTQI+ rights assembled in front of the 37th Police Department in Baku. Among the protesters were Ali Malikov and Javid Nabiyev from the Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance. They were present to demonstrate solidarity with the community, document the situation, and provide assistance when necessary.
Shockingly, these activists were subsequently detained by the police as well. A spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry informed MeydanTV that a total of seven individuals were apprehended during the protest, in addition to two others who were initially detained on May 22nd.
According to the Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance, LGBTQI+ rights activists Javid Nabiyev, Ali Malikov, and two unidentified individuals were taken to the police department in handcuffs. Witnesses present at the scene reported that Javid Nabiyev encountered difficulties during the process, and video evidence indicated the use of force during their apprehension.
After being held for nearly 18 hours, they were brought to the Khatai district court at noon on May 24th, where the activists were eventually released. Ali Malikov was fined 70 AZN under Article 510 for minor hooliganism, while Javid Nabiyev was fined 300 AZN under Article 206 for unauthorised personal consumption of narcotics.
In a tweet, Malikov disclosed that their detention involved physical contact, threats, and confinement in a small, poorly ventilated room. They also mentioned the presence of two other individuals, Aleksandra and Shabnam, one of whom appeared to have suffered sexual abuse.
Despite Malikov and fellow activist Javid Nabiyev being fined and released in the courtroom, they were not immediately set free. Instead, they were forcibly returned to the cramped room where they had been held. The police allegedly pushed and struck them, exacerbating an already distressing situation. Malikov tearfully recounted enduring torture alongside other detainees throughout the day.
The police proceeded to release Ali and Javid, while others were detained for 15 days on administrative grounds. The released individuals were confronted face-to-face with those still detained by the police, seemingly with the intention of traumatising both parties. Malikov interpreted this action as a deliberate attempt to instil fear and distress.
In their tweet, Malikov also disclosed that their detention involved physical contact, threats, and confinement in a small, poorly ventilated room. They also mentioned the presence of two other individuals, Aleksandra and Shabnam, one of whom appeared to have suffered sexual abuse.
Javid Nabiyev has also provided a harrowing account of mistreatment and abuse suffered at the hands of the Azerbaijani police in a post on Instagram. He shared his personal experiences of discrimination and violence, shining a light on the systemic prejudice encountered by the LGBTQI+ community in the country.
He described a nightmarish night spent in police custody, marked by degrading and dehumanising treatment. Among the distressing experiences he recounted were witnessing police officers using napkins to avoid touching the same surfaces as LGBTQI+ individuals, observing a fellow police officer being attacked by other officers, and being compelled to prove his innocence by physically demonstrating the absence of a concealed razor under his tongue.
Javid Nabiyev further emphasised the violation of his rights, as he was subjected to medical tests without a court order, solely based on the misguided belief that being LGBTQI+ makes one a carrier of diseases. He was handcuffed as if he had committed a serious crime and paraded around as an object of ridicule within the police department. Shockingly, police officers took pictures and videos of the activists to share with their friends, boasting about their detention of LGBTQI+ individuals.
Azerbaijan’s treatment of the LGBTQI+ community has faced criticism on the international stage. According to the latest edition of ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map and Index, which assesses LGBTQI+ rights across Europe, Azerbaijan received the lowest score of 2%. In their Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex People in Azerbaijan for 2022, released in February, ILGA-Europe highlighted the need for enhanced legal and policy measures to safeguard the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals in the country.
It is crucial to respect and adhere to the guidelines or recommendations provided by local activists and organisations in Azerbaijan, ensuring that any actions taken align with their strategies and priorities. Therefore, we kindly urge the international community to stand in solidarity by:
Calling on Azerbaijani authorities to promptly conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the excessive use of force by the police, the ill-treatment endured, and to hold those responsible accountable through fair and transparent judicial processes.
Sharing information about the arrests and mistreatment of LGBTQI+ activists in Azerbaijan within your network or affiliated institutions through various channels such as social media, online platforms, and community networks. Stay informed about ongoing developments by referring to the social media accounts of Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance and Minority Azerbaijan.
Contacting your local government representatives, ambassadors, or consulates to express your concerns about the situation in Azerbaijan. Encourage them to raise the issue with the Azerbaijani government and advocate for the protection of LGBTQI+ rights.
