Elvin Mustafayev, a member of the “Workers’ Table” Confederation of Trade Unions, has been transferred to a high-security prison for six months by court order.

The decision was made on July 10 by the Nizami District Court in Baku. The court reviewed a submission from Correctional Facility No. 6 and approved Mustafayev’s transfer from a general-regime prison to a stricter regime facility.

According to a report by Radio Azadliq, the submission claimed that Mustafayev had violated internal disciplinary rules, engaged in oppositional activity, filed baseless complaints, and attempted self-harm.

Mustafayev denied the allegations in court, calling the claims a pretext to punish him. He said he had been subjected to pressure and beaten by the warden of the correctional facility.

The activist linked the pressure to his decision to join a hunger strike in April 2025 in support of fellow political activist Tofig Yagublu, and to his protest over high prices in the prison commissary.

The prosecutor requested partial approval of the submission, recommending Mustafayev’s transfer to a high-security prison for six months. The court accepted the request.

On June 24, the “Workers’ Table” Confederation of Trade Unions released a statement alleging that Mustafayev had been tortured at Correctional Facility No. 6.

The statement claimed he had been held in a punishment cell for over a month and had been subjected to physical abuse.

“Elvin Mustafayev was taken to the prison warden Fariz Aliyev’s office on the day he arrived,” the statement said.

“According to information he shared with his family, as soon as he entered the room, the warden told him, ‘This place isn’t like the other prisons you’ve been in, behave yourself,” and then slapped him.”

Mustafayev reportedly protested the treatment, calling it illegal and degrading. The statement added that two operations officers named Samir and Ali then joined the warden and physically assaulted Mustafayev.

It said that as a result of the beatings, Mustafayev suffered serious health issues. “Fifteen prison staff, including the warden and operations officers, beat Elvin with particular cruelty. He was struck in the head and body, his ear ruptured, he lost consciousness, and bled from his ear for three days. Over a month later, he still suffers from ear infections and severe body pain,” the statement claimed.

On May 6 2025, Mustafayev was placed in a punishment cell for 14 days after launching a hunger strike in Prison No. 13, demanding Tofig Yagublu’s release. He was subsequently transferred to Prison No. 6. Although he was expected to be moved to a regular cell on May 19, his punishment was extended by 10 days. On May 29, that term was again extended by another month.

Elvin Mustafayev was sentenced to three years in prison on January 31, 2023. He was initially charged with possession of a large quantity of narcotics with intent to sell, but the court later reduced the charge to possession without intent to distribute.

Mustafayev has denied all charges and said his imprisonment is politically motivated.

Human rights organizations recognize him as a political prisoner. According to their reports, there are currently over 370 political prisoners in Azerbaijan - a claim denied by government officials.