On the 23rd of June, Narmin Shahmarzade, a feminist activist was attending an early Independence Day event at the US Embassy together with two more activists and a journalist. During the reception, Narmin Shahmarzade removed her scarve to reveal black hands drawn on her neck. She stood next to Azerbaijani MPs and other officials while describing recent brutal events in Gadabay where police dispersed the protest of local residents against pollution by Anglo Asian Mining PLC in the region. 

She was detained by security at the US Embassy in Baku, handed over to the police and taken to a police station. Narmin was released shortly after being interviewed.