A 19-year-old queer Azerbaijani, Yasin Ibadov, also known as Ruzgar, was fatally stabbed late Wednesday night in central Baku. The news was reported by the pro-government outlet ‘Qafqazinfo’.
Ibadov sustained multiple stab and puncture wounds and was taken to the hospital but doctors were unable to save his life. The suspect, identified as Ibadov’s 38-year-old uncle, Babak Ibadov, has been arrested. The report notes that he has a prior criminal record and is believed to have planned the murder in advance, though the motive was not officially confirmed. Activists and social media users, however, widely suspect that the killing was motivated by Yasin’s sexual orientation.
Ibadov had reportedly returned to Azerbaijan from Turkey earlier this year and recently underwent surgery in Baku.
Following news of the attack, activists and community members expressed outrage over the authorities’ handling of the case. Civil rights activist Aykhan Zayedzadeh wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that bystanders at the scene failed to contact the police who arrived only after the perpetrator himself had called. Zayedzadeh added that by the time emergency responders reached Ibadov, he was already dead.
The queer community platform Qiy Vaaar also criticized the medical response, claiming that doctors had “failed to pay sufficient attention” to the victim’s condition. The group called on government agencies to issue an official statement and ensure accountability.
As ‘Qafqazinfo’ reports, the Nasimi District Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation, though no further details have been released.
The case has reignited criticism of Azerbaijani authorities for their silence and inaction on anti-LGBTQ+ violence. Similar incidents have drawn limited official response in the past. In March 2024, a trans woman was murdered in Baku, with coverage largely confined to community networks rather than state-affiliated media.
