human rights defender

Elvin Mustafayev

Actions and Campaigns

© Fargana Novruzova

Organization affiliation

  • Confederation of Workers' Desk Trade Unions

HRD's year of birth

1996

HRD's Gender

Man

Type of HRD

  • Trade union leader

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Labour rights

HRD's geographical origin

Urban

HRD's bio and work

Elvin Mustafayev is an Azerbaijani courier and labour rights activist affiliated with the Confederation of Workers' Desk Trade Unions (İşçi Masası). Through his involvement in the organisation, he has supported delivery workers’ rights and independent trade union activity.

Mustafayev was arrested on 4 August 2023, following courier protests and amid the detention of other Workers' Desk activists. Initially accused of drug trafficking, he was subsequently tried for possession of narcotics without intent to sell. On 31 January 2024, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment. The sentence was upheld on appeal, and the Supreme Court confirmed the conviction on 22 May 2025.

Throughout the proceedings, Mustafayev rejected the allegations, stating that police had planted the drugs and that he was being punished for his civic activities. International human rights organisations highlighted his prosecution as part of the repression of independent civil society in Azerbaijan.

On 4 August 2026, Mustafayev was released upon completion of his three-year sentence.

Current Status

Released

Detained since

Aug 4, 2023

Date of release

Aug 4, 2026

Charge(s)

  • Possession of illegal material

Sentence

3 years' imprisonment

Latitude: 40.441570928776066

Longitude: 50.088966186509275

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Asia: Western Asia

Location of detention - City/Town

Baku

Location of detention - Facility

Penitentiary Institution No. 17

Allegations / reports of ill-treatment

Elvin Mustafayev reported beatings, prolonged punishment-cell confinement and denial of adequate medical care during his imprisonment. In June 2025, his trade union reported that officers at Penitentiary Institution No. 6 had severely beaten him, causing an ear injury, loss of consciousness and persistent pain. In January 2026, he alleged that requests for treatment of health problems resulting from torture were deliberately ignored at Umbaki Prison. His family subsequently reported threats to prevent his release and his placement in a punishment cell at Penitentiary Institution No. 17 on 30 June 2026, prompting another hunger strike.

Recent case update / evolution

On 4 August 2026, Elvin Mustafayev was released after completing his three-year prison sentence.

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