Tofiq Yaqublu: Amnesty demands release of Azerbaijani opposition politician

Tofiq Yaqublu

The human rights group Amnesty International has written to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to demand the immediate release of jailed opposition politician Tofiq Yaqublu.

In a letter published on 23 June, the organisation warned that Mr Yaqublu’s health is deteriorating rapidly inside Prison No 17, where he is currently being held.

The group has also launched a public campaign urging supporters to write directly to the Azerbaijani presidency to protest against his treatment.

Mr Yaqublu, a prominent member of the opposition Musavat Party and the National Council of Democratic Forces, is reportedly suffering from severe knee pain and swelling that has left him unable to walk without assistance.

According to Amnesty, prison authorities have repeatedly refused to release the results of an MRI scan taken more than four weeks ago, despite Mr Yaqublu giving consent for the medical information to be shared with his family.

His family also attempted to deliver crutches to the prison to aid his mobility, but the equipment was rejected by prison administration and returned.

"The state bears responsibility for the life and health of all persons under its control," Amnesty said in its appeal to President Aliyev.

"This responsibility includes the provision of adequate medical care without discrimination, free of charge, and immediate medical assistance in urgent cases."

Mr Yaqublu was arrested in December 2023. In March 2025, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced him to nine years in prison on charges of fraud and document forgery.

His appeal against the sentence was rejected by the Baku Court of Appeal in May 2025, prompting the politician to launch a hunger strike in protest.

During the initial arrest, police claimed to have found €5,000 (£4,200) and 2,500 Azerbaijani manats (£1,100) in cash at his home.

Mr Yaqublu's daughter, Nigar Hazi, said the money had been planted by authorities. Amnesty noted that holding foreign currency is not a crime under Azerbaijani law.

The rights group has classified the prosecution as politically motivated, describing it as part of a "systemic crackdown" by the Azerbaijani authorities to silence peaceful dissent, independent media, and political opposition.

The government in Baku has consistently denied allegations of politically motivated prosecutions, maintaining that the judiciary is fully independent.