Ongoing Solitary Confinement and Legal Battles of Trade Unionist Elvin Mustafayev

Elvin Mustafayev

Elvin Mustafayev, a member of the “Workers’ Desk” Confederation of Trade Unions, remains in solitary confinement amid serious health concerns and a series of legal setbacks. Since his detention in August 2023 on drug trafficking charges—which he denies, linking them to his trade union activities—Mustafayev has endured hunger strikes, transfers between penal colonies, and multiple extensions of his time in a punishment cell (karser). His family and lawyer warn that his chronic stomach condition and related health problems make prolonged isolation potentially life-threatening.

Detention and Sentencing: On August 4, 2023, Mustafayev was arrested and charged under Article 234.1-1 of the Criminal Code (illegal trafficking of narcotic substances). He has consistently rejected these charges, claiming they were fabricated due to his involvement with “Workers’ Desk.” On January 31, 2024, the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced him to three years in prison.

Trade Union Context: “Workers’ Desk” was formed in 2022 in Azerbaijan to defend workers’ rights. Four of its members—chairman Afiyaddin Mammadov and activists Aykhan Israfilov, Elvin Mustafayev, and Mohyaddin Orucov—are currently imprisoned. All four maintain that the charges against them are politically motivated and intended to suppress independent labor organizing.

Health Issues: Mustafayev suffers from chronic stomach ailments that, according to his lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova, also cause severe tooth pain and are exacerbated by stress. Repeated requests for medical treatment during investigation and trial were reportedly ignored. His family fears that extended stays in solitary confinement, where medical access is minimal, will worsen these conditions.

Hunger Strike and Initial Transfer (May 6 – Mid May)

Hunger Strike Begins: On May 6, 2025, Mustafayev launched a hunger strike at Penal Colony No. 13, demanding the release of political prisoners, including opposition leader Tofiq Yaqublu. Hours later, relatives lost all contact with him.

Transfer to Penal Colony No. 6: By around May 19, his family learned that Mustafayev had been moved from Colony No. 13 to Colony No. 6 and placed in solitary confinement. Relatives stressed that he should have been released from isolation on May 19, but the prison authorities did not implement that order.

Supreme Court Decision (May 22)

Appeal Rejected: On May 22, 2025, the Supreme Court refused to hear Mustafayev’s appeal, thereby upholding the lower courts’ rulings. According to his relatives, Mustafayev was brought directly from the karser (punishment cell) to the courtroom on that day. Attempts to obtain official statements from the Penitentiary Service regarding the refusal were unsuccessful.

First Report: Extended Solitary Confinement (June 3)

Family Notification: On June 3, Mustafayev’s family told Abzas Media that the prison had informed them he would remain in solitary confinement until June 29—despite an earlier indication that he should be released on May 29.

Family’s Stance: They insist that keeping him in a punishment cell for over a month is “ordered from above,” reflecting political interference. They appealed to the Penitentiary Service for clarification on the legal basis for this prolonged isolation.

Lawyer’s Efforts: Attorney Zibeyda Sadigova reported that she had filed requests with the Penitentiary Service for all documentation related to his placement in solitary but received no response. After contacting the prison’s hotline, she confirmed he is indeed held in Colony No. 6’s karser. She plans to escalate the issue to the Ombudsman should the Service continue to remain silent.

Second Report: Renewal of Solitary Term (May 29 – June 29)

Extension Announcement: On May 29, Mustafayev’s family learned from Colony No. 6 that his one-month term in solitary, initially set to end on May 29, would be extended by another month until June 29.

Family Concerns Intensify: They reiterated that Mustafayev’s chronic stomach disease makes extended karser detention especially dangerous. According to them, stress and lack of proper medical care could lead to severe dental complications and other health issues.

Key Quotes

“He suffers from stomach diseases. Problems in his stomach also cause severe pain in his teeth. Stress and nervousness lead to further complications. During the investigation and trial, we already raised concerns about his health and requested treatment. It is very likely that these illnesses are chronic. He needs a thorough examination and treatment.”– Zibeyda Sadigova, Mustafayev’s lawyer.

“He was supposed to call home on May 29, but we only learned that his solitary confinement was extended until June 29. We believe this is the result of orders from higher authorities. He cannot stay there for so long given his health.”– Relatives of Elvin Mustafayev, speaking to Abzas Media on June 3.

“When I left the market, four men attacked me violently, took my phone, and brought me to the administration. They told me that if I didn’t ‘confess,’ they would accuse me of rape with a fabricated story or label me an ‘Iranian agent’… They pressured me into taking the fall.”– Elvin Mustafayev, on the circumstances of his arrest (as reported during his trial).

Analysis and Reactions

Family and Lawyer: Both view Mustafayev’s repeated transfers and solitary confinement as tactics to break his resolve after the hunger strike. They point to the lack of responsiveness from the Penitentiary Service as evidence of either negligence or deliberate obfuscation.

Political Prisoner Context: Local human rights groups estimate there are roughly 350 political prisoners in Azerbaijan’s jails. The government denies any politically motivated arrests, insisting all detainees were lawfully prosecuted. However, international bodies—including the U.S. State Department and Western diplomats in Baku—have called for the release of those they consider wrongfully detained, urging Azerbaijan to cease pressure on independent media and civil society.

Health Risks of Prolonged Solitary: Solitary confinement—known to exacerbate both physical and mental health issues—poses particular danger to inmates with chronic conditions. Mustafayev’s stomach and dental ailments, combined with high stress and minimal medical oversight in a karser, significantly increase the risk of a medical emergency.

As of June 3, 2025, Elvin Mustafayev remains in solitary confinement at Penal Colony No. 6, with his release from the karser scheduled for June 29—unless further extensions occur. His family and lawyer continue to press for medical treatment and a transparent review of the legal decisions behind his isolation. Observers, both domestic and international, will be watching to see whether Azerbaijan’s authorities allow Mustafayev to receive proper care or persist in what critics call a politically motivated campaign to silence independent trade union activism.