Elvin Mustafayev
Labour rights activist; member of the Labour Desk Confederation of Trade Unions; imprisoned under bogus charges
About Elvin Mustafayev
Elvin Mustafayev, born in 1996, is an Azerbaijani civic and labour rights activist and a member of the Trade Union Confederation “Worker’s Table” (İşçi Masası). The organisation was founded in 2022 to defend labour rights, particularly focusing on couriers. Mustafayev worked as a courier in Wolt Azerbaijan.
Mustafayev’s activism, which included publicly protesting injustice and criticising government negligence, is believed to have contributed to his persecution.
Prior to his current conviction, Mustafayev faced administrative detentions related to his social and political activities. On 18 March 2023, authorities sentenced him to 25-day administrative detention for petty hooliganism and disobeying police after posting critical comments on Facebook about a water shortage protest in his hometown, Saatli. In summer 2023, he was detained again under administrative charges for 30 days following a motorbike couriers’ rally in Baku.1
Case description
On 4 August 2023, authorities detained Mustafayev under drug charges. They claimed Mustafayev illegally acquired and sold 3.471 grams of heroin by a group and in a large amount (Criminal Code Articles 234.4.1 and 234.4.3).2
On 5 August 2023, the Baku City Binagadi District Court Judge Zamiq Bagirov remanded Mustafayev for four months of pre-trial detention. In court, Mustafayev denied the charges, claiming he was forcibly detained, beaten, and threatened with heavier charges (including rape charges or being linked to Iran) if he did not admit guilt. He was coerced into making a “confession” on video and signing papers without reading them.
On 31 January 2024, the Baku City Court on Serious Crimes reclassified the charges against Mustafayev due to insufficient evidence. The Court convicted him of the illegal acquisition and storage of a large quantity of drugs without the intent to sell them (Criminal Code Article 234.1-1) and sentenced Mustafayev to three years’ imprisonment in a penal colony under the general regime.3
On 6 May 2025, Mustafayev went on a hunger strike to protest the imprisonment of Tofig Yagublu and other political prisoners in Azerbaijan, which significantly deteriorated his health. Consequently, the prison administration placed him in solitary confinement and kept him there until late June. The administration also filed a motion in court requesting his transfer to Correctional Facility №6 in Gobustan. While in the punishment cell, Mustafayev was denied visits and calls, even with his lawyer.4,5
On 10 July 2025, the Nazimi District Court approved the motion, and Mustafayev was initially transferred to Correctional Facility №6. There, fifteen prison staff members, including the warden and operations officers, reportedly subjected him to severe physical torture. The assault caused a ruptured eardrum, a loss of consciousness, and prolonged suffering from ear inflammation and bodily pain. After this incident, Mustafayev was deprived of family visits for over a month in order to hide his injuries. Subsequently, he was transferred to Umbaku Prison.6,7
On 3 September 2025, the Appeal Court upheld the decision to hold Mustafayev in the prison where he was allegedly tortured. The facility is typically reserved for inmates convicted of grave crimes.8
References
- https://www.az-netwatch.org/news/activist-sentenced-to-25-days-in-administrative-detention-over-social-media-posts/
- https://jam-news.net/three-members-of-one-organization-arrested-in-azerbaijan-in-half-a-month-fourth-speaks-of-persecution/
- https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/azerbaijan
- https://www.instituteforhumanrights.org/post/azerbaijani-authorities-seek-to-move-activist-elvin-mustafayev-to-strict-regime-prison-after-hunger
- https://www.meydan.tv/en/article/elvin-mustafayev-is-not-allowed-to-meet-with-his-lawyer/
- https://abzas.net/en/2025/7/jailed-activist-transferred-to047e5b8e-e/#:~:text=On%20June%2024%2C%20the%20%E2%80%9CWorkers,pain%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20statement%20claimed.
- https://oc-media.org/jailed-azerbaijani-activist-almost-beaten-to-death-in-prison/
- https://www.instituteforhumanrights.org/post/baku-court-upholds-activist-elvin-mustafayev-s-transfer-to-high-security-prison
Resources about Elvin Mustafayev
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