Uncle accused testifies in Ruzgar murder trial

On February 4, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes held a trial on the murder of Yasin Ibadov. The deceased's uncle, the accused Babek Ibadov, testified during the trial and spoke about the details of the incident.

Lent.az reports that at the hearing chaired by Judge Elmin Rustamov, Babek Ibadov admitted that he stabbed Yasin during the incident that occurred on November 6, 2025 on Bashir Safaroglu Street, Sabail District. He claimed that he later learned of the deceased's gender identity and made explicit stigmatizing and violence-justifying statements against trans people in his testimony.

Witnesses questioned in court provided information about Yasin's departure to Turkey before the incident, the attempts of family members to "find and return" them, and what happened on the day of the incident. The witness statements also clearly expressed a hostile attitude towards trans people. Minority Azerbaijan states that such statements should not be assessed by the court as facts, but as transphobic approaches that normalize violence.

According to the case materials, Yasin Ibadov, born in 2006, was killed on November 6, 2025, after receiving multiple stab wounds. After the incident, 38-year-old Babek Ibadov was detained and charged under Articles 120.2.2 (murder with special cruelty), 120.2.4, 221.3 and 228.5 of the Criminal Code. The next court hearing is scheduled for February 23 at 11:20.

This case highlights the risks of violence and impunity faced by trans and gender diverse people in Azerbaijan. It is crucial from a human rights perspective for law enforcement and judicial authorities to conduct objective investigations into such serious crimes, properly assess transphobic motives, and protect the dignity of victims.

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