Elvin Mustafayev – activist of the Trade Unions Confederation “Workers’ Table” Arrested: 4 August 2023 Charge: Articles 234.4.1 (Illegal purchase, storage, manufacturing, processing, transportation without a purpose of selling of narcotics or psychotropic substances in a quantity (amount) exceeding necessary for personal consumption) and 234.4.3 (Illegal manufacturing, purchase, storage, transportation, transfer or selling of narcotics, psychotropic substances committed in large amount) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic.
On 5 August 2023, the Baku City Binagadi District Court issued an order: to satisfy the investigator’s petition on arrest and issue a preventive measure against Elvin Mustafayev in the form of arrest for a period of 4 months.
The period of detention in custody during the investigation has been subsequently extended several times Sentence: On 11 March 2024, the Baku City Court for Serious Crimes issued a verdict: since the prosecution failed to provide any convincing evidence in the course of the trial, the Judge substituted the previous Articles of the Prosecution with a new one, 234.1-1 (Illegal acquisition or storage of drugs or psychotropic substances without the purpose of sale in an amount exceeding the amount necessary for personal consumption, committed in a large amount) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic.
And afterwards Elvin Mustafayev was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment Judge: Faiq Qaniyev Place of detention: Penal Colony № 6 at the Boyuk Shor settlement in Baku City Nizami District Conclusion: On 1 August 2023, in Baku, there was a rally organised by the motorbike couriers.
They protested against the police that requested their driving licenses and the actions of the authorities taking their vehicles to the impound yard.
It should be noted that the new law adopted in this field prohibited such actions of the police.
Among those taking part in the rally there were members of the Trade Unions Confederation “Workers’ Table” including an activist Elvin Mustafayev who, in March 2023, had previously been arrested for his critical statements on social media for the period of 30 days.
He was arrested for critisising the authorities’ negligence on the water shortage in the Saatly District of Azerbaijan.
Elvin Mustafayev, interrogated in the course of the trial, testified that he worked as a courier for the Wolt Company.
He had never been involved in drug dealing and, moreover, had always had a negative attitude towards such people, always avoiding them.
He also testified that he had been forcibly detained in his yard and forced to “confess” due to threats, which had been recorded on a video.
He was threatened to face heavier charges if he failed to admit guilt. 54
