Azerbaijan criticized for LGBTI persecution

Baku / 05.02.20 / Turan: ILGA-Europe (European division of the International Association for the Protection of Rights LGBTI - Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transsexuals and Interesting Sexuals) on February 4 released an annual report that reflects the situation in 54 countries of the world.

The document says that last year the European Court of Human Rights began communication in the case “A against Azerbaijan”, where the complaints of 24 applicants are combined.

The report condemns the raids carried out in 2017, when 80 LGBT representatives were detained in the center of Baku, tortured and ill-treated.

On April 1, 2019, 8 sex workers, from among gay and transgender people, were detained, which became a new wave of detentions.

A few days later another seven people were detained. For many, a forced check was carried out. Some were fined or arrested for 10-30 days for petty hooliganism. They were first called to the police, and there they were already detained.

The report also reflects other facts of harassment of the LGBT. In particular, it points to the "Case of Elina" - the 8th classmate, who, due to bullying, laid hands on herself.

In 2000, the criminal liability for homosexuality was abolished in Azerbaijan. However, the ILGA human rights group in 2016 noted that in this country, the situation with gay protection is the worst in Europe.

Azerbaijani authorities deny persecution of minorities. “Representatives of sexual minorities in our country have never been harassed. However, this does not mean that they should not be held responsible for illegal actions,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated in 2017. — 16D06—