Health of “Workers’ Desk” Activist Deteriorates in Solitary Confinement

Lawyer says she has appealed to the Ombudsman regarding his detention conditions

Elvin Mustafayev, a member of the “Workers’ Desk” Trade Union Confederation, who is currently being held in a punishment cell (known as solitary confinement or disciplinary cell) at Penitentiary Institution No. 6, is experiencing health problems.

His lawyer, Zibeyda Sadigova, told Meydan TV that during her meeting with Mustafayev, he complained about issues with his ear:

“Elvin has always had health issues. During our meeting, he told me that for the past ten days, he has been suffering from ear pain, inflammation, and discharge. I have appealed to the Medical Department of the Ministry of Justice and the Penitentiary Service requesting that he undergo a medical examination and that the relevant medical documents be provided to me,” said Sadigova.

She also noted that Mustafayev has been kept in solitary confinement since May 6:

“I have applied to the Ombudsman’s Office, asking them to visit him and assess his detention conditions. Since Elvin is currently in solitary confinement, his family has no information about his situation,” she added.

Elvin Mustafayev was placed in solitary confinement at Penitentiary Institution No. 13 on May 6 after he began a hunger strike demanding the release of opposition politician Tofig Yagublu and other political prisoners. He was later transferred to Penitentiary Institution No. 6.

Sadigova later reported that the administration of Penitentiary Institution No. 6 submitted a request to the Nizami District Court to have Mustafayev serve his sentence under strict regime conditions at Gobustan prison. Although the case was scheduled to be heard on June 12 by Judge Nariman Mehdiyev, it was postponed to June 19 because the prosecutor failed to attend the session.

Elvin Mustafayev was arrested on August 4, 2023, and convicted under Article 234.1-1 of the Criminal Code (illegal trafficking of narcotics) by the Baku Court of Grave Crimes on January 31, 2024, receiving a 3-year prison sentence. He denies the charges and states that drugs were planted on him.

Founded in 2022 to defend workers’ rights in Azerbaijan, the “Workers’ Desk” Trade Union Confederation currently has four of its members imprisoned — chairperson Afiaddin Mammadov, and activists Ayhan Israfilov, Elvin Mustafayev, and Mohyaddin Orucov. Each of them faces various charges, which they claim are politically motivated and fabricated.