Mohyaddin Orujov is a labour rights defender and trade union activist affiliated with the Confederation of Workers' Desk Trade Unions (İşçi Masası). Before his arrest, he worked as a warehouse employee at ATEF Group’s transformer plant. He raised concerns about delayed wages and other alleged workplace violations and submitted complaints to the State Labour Inspectorate.

In October 2023, shortly after filing a labour complaint, Orucov was sentenced to 30 days of administrative detention for alleged disobedience to the police and petty hooliganism. He maintained that the detention was retaliation for his labour-rights activities. Following his release, he spoke publicly about the alleged police abuse and possible collusion between the police and his employer.

Orucov was detained again on 13 December 2023 and accused of possessing narcotics with intent to sell. He denied the accusation and alleged that the drugs had been planted. On 25 February 2025, the Baku Grave Crimes Court removed the intent-to-sell element, convicted him of possessing a large quantity of narcotics without intent to sell and sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment. Labour and human-rights organisations regard the prosecution as politically motivated and connected to the authorities’ pressure on independent trade union organising.