Trans activist Rauf Heydarov was detained on March 10 after attempting to display a poster in front of the Natavan statue at city center on March 8 in support of 8 imprisoned women journalists.
Rauf was charged under Articles 510 and 535.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, accusing him of minor hooliganism for allegedly using obscene language on his phone in public and refusing to comply with a police order.
Later that day, Rauf was summoned to the Binagadi District Court. He denied the charges, stating that two police officers approached him near the “Azadlıq” metro station and invited him to the 5th Binagadi police department, where he voluntarily went without resistance. Judge Elchin Zakariya found him guilty and sentenced him to 30 days of administrative detention.
On March 13, the Baku Court of Appeal dismissed Rauf’s complaint and upheld his detention. Notably, the hearing proceeded without his lawyer, Rovshane Rahimli, who was delayed due to heavy traffic. Despite informing the court and requesting a brief delay, the hearing was conducted in his absence. “It is standard practice for courts to wait for legal representatives when delayed, but they deliberately proceeded without me. This is a blatant violation of Rauf Heydarov’s right to defense,” Rahimli stated.
Rauf has reported serious abuse in custody after arrest
On March 13, after days without contact, Rauf’s lawyer was finally able to meet him at the Administrative Detention Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Rauf described his treatment in custody as:
I had an appointment with the doctor. I was detained as I left the hospital. I received injection and was duely weak. The police dragged me into a car and took me to the Binagadi District Police Station 5. There, I was beaten and repeatedly insulted. They were asking me how do I come to I know those on the poster. Officers placed a document in front of me stating I refused a lawyer and demanded I sign it. When I refused, they slammed my head on the table twice.
He also reported being denied food and water before his court appearance, leaving him physically weak. “I arrived at court in a terrible state. My clothes were dirty and I was visibly unwell. The judge asked why I looked like that but ignored my response.”
Following the court ruling, Rauf was transferred to the Administrative Detention Center, where he reported improved conditions compared to the police station. “So far, I have faced no problems. I am currently in a single solitary confinement,” he said to the lawyer. A staff member identifying as a psychologist has been meeting with him regularly. “My trans identity has been the focus of these talks,” he added.