The Azerbaijani government uses LGBTQI+s to pressure activists

The Azerbaijani government uses LGBTQI+s to pressure opposition activists. Well-known video blogger Mehman Huseynov explains this in a video published on his YouTube channel.

According to him, in January 2019, while he was on a hunger strike in protest against a second criminal case opened against him, government officials tried various methods to stop the strike, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Eventually, the government published a news story in one of its controlled newspapers claiming that Mehman Huseynov was in a romantic relationship with an unknown queer person. Later, the prison administration—specifically, Elnur Ismayilov, the head of Investigation Detention Facility No. 1, and Mirsaleh Seyidov, the head of the Penitentiary Service (who was then the deputy head)—used this newspaper against Mehman Huseynov as a means of pressure in prison. He was told that if he did not end the hunger strike, copies of the newspaper would be distributed among the prisoners. Since same-sex relationships are highly negatively perceived according to prison "rules," Mehman Huseynov would face a difficult time in prison.

The blogger states that although he did not succumb to this threat at the time, he decided to investigate the matter after his release. It turned out that the person mentioned had been imprisoned before and was held in the Shuvelan detention facility. Elnur Ismayilov, who worked at the Shuvelan prison at that time, had direct contact with this individual. Although this prisoner was sentenced to five years, he was released after one year and upon his release, announced that he was a member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), bowing in front of a statue of Heydar Aliyev. Years later, during Mehman Huseynov's hunger strike, this same person declared that he had a relationship with Huseynov.

According to Mehman Huseynov, the prison administration pressured this person because of his sexual orientation, made a deal with him, and forced him to side with the government and make such a statement against the blogger. Due to his actions, Elnur Ismayilov quickly rose in rank and was appointed head of Detention Facility No. 1.

The blogger claims that the Azerbaijani government tries to "break" people by using their sexual orientation and gender identity as a means of pressure and intimidation.

To watch the full content of the video, use this link.

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