Appeals Court Upholds Arrest of Animal Rights Activist E. Mirzoyev

Elkhan Mirzoyev

The Shirvan Court of Appeals on October 15 considered the complaint of animal rights activist Elkhan Mirzoyev against his two-month administrative arrest.

Recall that on October 1, animal rights activist Elkhan Mirzoyev was taken away from his home in the Guneshli village of Azerbaijan's Lerik district by people in plain clothes. Only on October 5 were family members able to clarify Mirzoyev's fate. It turned out that on October 3, he had already been sentenced by the Lerik District Court of Azerbaijan to 2 months of detention under Article 206 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Azerbaijan (Illegal circulation of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances not for the purpose of sale).

In the Court of Appeals, Mirzoyev rejected the accusation of drug use, stating that the administrative case against him was fabricated, his relatives reported.

Mirzoyev stated that he had tried to be useful to society, fought against deforestation, cared for sick and homeless animals, and helped people write complaints to state bodies about issues concerning the public.

However, the court rejected the appeal without satisfying the defense's motions.

Mirzoyev's relatives believe that the arrest of the animal rights activist is linked to his public activities and the government criticism voiced by his cousin, opposition blogger Tural Sadygly.

In August 2021 in Azerbaijan, Mirzoyev and two other animal rights activists were arrested for 15 days after they held a protest and then reprimanded the owner of a monkey with removed teeth, who was using the animal to take photos with passersby.