Together with the Feminist Peace Collective, an anarchist-queerfeminist collective of Azerbaijani exiles, we stand in solidarity with imprisoned trade unionists in Azerbaijan. Four members of İşçi Masası (Workers’ Desk) have been imprisoned on false charges and one person has already been sentenced to eight years in prison. Further trials are pending.
İşçi Masası is a young independent trade union that has been trying to revive the trade union tradition in Azerbaijan since its foundation in 2022. In 2023, it supported courier drivers in their fight against wage cuts and a new law that regulated the use of motorcycles so strictly that many were deprived of their most important means of work – and thus their livelihood.
The FAU Berlin has also already led several labour disputes together with courier drivers and sees the self-organisation of workers as a central means of countering authoritarian structures in society. We want to express this conviction on International May Day and support İşçi Masası against the repression of the Azerbaijani state. We stand in solidarity with our Azerbaijani comrades at İşçi Masası and endorse their statement:
‘İşçi Masası has been supporting workers, especially in the gig economy, since 2022. We offer legal assistance, draw attention to exploitation and help workers organise against injustices committed by employers and the state. Our movement is currently facing great injustice. Our chairman and several members have been arrested on false charges for courageously standing up for their rights and the rights of all workers.
We call on trade unions, human rights organisations and comrades around the world to stand in solidarity with us. Our demands are clear:
* The immediate release of Afiaddin Mammadov, Aykhan Israfilov, Elvin Mustafayev and Mohyaddin Orujov.
* A transparent investigation into the procedural violations in the trials against our comrades.
#FreeAfiaddin #FreeAykhan #FreeMohyaddin #FreeElvin