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Murder of the trans woman was not classified as a hate crime

Qıy Vaar! reported that the person murdered in Baku in February was a trans woman named Aydan

27/Oct/26

Murder of the trans woman was not classified as a hate crime

Qıy Vaar! reported that the person murdered in Baku in February was a trans woman named Aydan. According to details obtained by the organization from community members, the individual identified as "O.U." in court documents is, in fact, Aydan. Röyal Ismayilov, the person accused of the murder, has admitted to the charges related to the incident.

Qıy Vaar! had previously reported on the criminal case involving Röyal Ismayilov in connection with the murder of a gay man in Baku. The organization has now provided an update to that report. Based on information received from community members, the individual referred to as "O.U." in the court records is a trans woman named Aydan.

According to new information obtained by Qıy Vaar! from community members, Aydan’s relatives attempted to conceal her trans identity and the name she used. Consequently, in court reports regarding the murder, she was not identified as a trans woman.

According to the indictment, Ismayilov arranged to meet separately with two trans women whom he had met via social media. He traveled from Tovuz to Baku on February 15, carrying a knife he had prepared in advance.

On February 19, Ismayilov contacted Aydan via WhatsApp and proposed a meeting. The two arrived at a hotel in the Narimanov district of Baku. According to the indictment, Ismayilov attacked Aydan with a knife while they were ascending the hotel stairs. Aydan died at the scene as a result of the injuries sustained.

Ismayilov had planned to meet another trans woman that same day, but he was apprehended by police while en route to the meeting location in the Nasimi district of Baku.

According to Lent.az, Ismayilov stated during the court hearing that he had decided to "punish and destroy" LGBTQI+ individuals. He is being tried on charges of intentional homicide and the murder of two or more persons; he remains in custody.

Although the accused explicitly stated that he targeted LGBTQI+ individuals based on their identities, the murder was not classified as a hate crime in the indictment.