Colleagues associate murder of an Azerbaijani journalist with his activity in defence of LGBT rights

Azerbaijani journalist Avaz Shikhmamedov, also known as Avaz Khafizli, was killed, and his cousin is suspected of the crime. Colleagues of the murdered journalist note that Avaz Shikhmamedov spoke out in defence of the rights of sexual minorities, which caused discontent in his family.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on January 25, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on protecting the rights of LGBT people in Europe, pointing to persecution in Chechnya based on sexual orientation, and demanded from the Russian authorities to protect victims and punish guilty persons. In the resolution, the PACE also expresses its concern over the lack of protection of people of non-traditional sexual orientation in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

“Avaz Khafizli has recently defended the rights of LGBT people and has been persecuted by his family,” journalist Nurlan Gakhramanly wrote on his Facebook page.

Freelance journalist Nargiz Absalamova also pointed out that Avaz Khafizli spoke in support of the rights of LGBT people and participated in actions in defence of the journalists’ rights.

On October 30, 2021, Avaz Khafizli held a rally in Baku against the police inaction against blogger Sevindj Guseinova, who called for violence against LGBT people. Avaz Khafizli was detained by the police.