LGBTI+ activists detained in Baku faced accusations of administrative offences

After the detention of LGBTI+ human rights defenders in front of the 37th Police Department in Baku, new information about their legal situation has been released. According to the information provided by journalist Nurlan Libre, Javid Nabiyev, Ali Malikov and two other unidentified people were brought to the police department in handcuffs. They were treated as criminals despite the fact that they had not been involved in any actual wrongdoing.

Witnesses present in front of the police department said that Javid Nabiyev faced difficulties during the process. Video evidence also showed that force was used during their detention. The protocol with Article 510 was prepared against Ali Malikov from Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance.

In addition, Faig Alverdiyev, Zaur Askerov, Ali Ahmadov, Orkhan Mammadov and Seymur Allahverdiyev gathered in front of the 37th Police Department of Khatai region and protested the arrest of their comrades. Their attempts to voice their concerns were described by the police as ‘leading to a confrontational situation when they raised their voices and argued with police officers’. As a result, they were detained and brought to the police department.

According to the information provided by journalist Nurlan Libre, service protocols were drawn up and sent to the court, including Article 510 (petty hooliganism) of the Code of Administrative Offences.