Tofig Yagublu Honored with "Courage" Award by World Congress of Freedom

Opposition politician Tofig Yagublu, who is currently serving a prison sentence in Azerbaijan, has been honored with the "Courage" Award by the World Congress of Freedom (WCF), which unites opposition figures, journalists, and democracy advocates from 60 countries with totalitarian and dictatorial regimes.

The award ceremony took place on Sunday as part of the WCF General Assembly, held on November 8-9 in the building of the Berlin City Parliament.

Yagublu received the award for his courage and contribution to the struggle for democracy.

Yagublu’s award was presented to the Azerbaijani human rights defenders in exile, the couple Leyla and Arif Yunus, who represented him at the ceremony.

Journalist Mehman Huseynov, representing the civil society of Azerbaijan, and human rights defender Arif Yunus were elected as members of the WCF Leaders Council.

Tofig Yagublu, a member of the Coordination Center of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) and the Musavat Party, was arrested in December 2023. On March 10, a court sentenced him to 9 years in prison on charges of fraud and document forgery. Yagublu rejected the accusations and stated that his persecution was politically motivated.

Human rights organizations have recognized Yagublu as a political prisoner.

Previously, he had been repeatedly subjected to arrests under criminal and administrative cases.