PACE Rapporteur is concerned about the persecution of LGBTI representatives in Azerbaijan

Baku/01.06.23/Turan: The Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the rights of LGBTI representatives, Belgian MP Christophe Lacroix expressed concern about reports of cases of pressure in Azerbaijan on this category of persons.

"I am deeply concerned about new reports that LGBTI representatives and activists defending their rights in Azerbaijan are once again being targeted by police officers," Lacroix said.

His statement said that several trans women were detained at the beginning of last week. The next day, LGBTI activists were detained, demanding their release. The detainees were subjected to ill-treatment and fines. "No one should ever be persecuted for sexual orientation, gender identity.

Law enforcement agencies must ensure that the human rights of all are respected and protected. This is not the first time we have received reports of harassment and ill-treatment of LGBTI persons and activists by the police in Azerbaijan. "I once again call on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately put an end to this practice and conduct a full, effective and independent investigation of all allegations of ill-treatment of LGBTI persons and human rights defenders by the police," he concluded.

“I am deeply concerned by new reports that LGBTI people and activists defending their rights in Azerbaijan have again been targeted by police officers,” said Christophe Lacroix (Belgium, SOC), General Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the rights of LGBTI persons, today. “Following their protests against police behaviour towards them, several trans women were reportedly detained early last week, and the following day LGBTI activists demanding their release were also reportedly detained, ill-treated, humiliated and/or fined. These reports are deeply worrying, as are allegations that some of these individuals were subjected to forced medical tests,” he added.

It should be recalled that on May 23, LGBTI activists gathered in front of the 37th police department of the Khatai district of Baku in connection with the detention of several transgender women. Those demanding their release were also detained.

In turn, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that on May 22, in one of the hotels in the Khatai district of Baku, Subhan Sharifzade, born in 2003 and Samir Gadimzade, born in 2004, beat a resident of Baku born in 1979 (name not disclosed), trashed the property of the hotel for 1000 manats and were detained.

The next day, several people gathered in front of the 37th police station, who demanded the release of the detainees, and created a conflict with the police. Protocols were drawn up against them under article 510 (petty hooliganism) The Code of Administrative Offenses and the court's decision they were fined.

After their release, Melikov and Nabiyev stated that they had been subjected to violence by the police and regarded it as a manifestation of homophobia. 16B06