Tofiq Yaqublu’s Health Deteriorates After 35-Day Hunger Strike Ahead of May 6 Appeal Hearing

Tofiq Yaqublu

Tofiq Yaqublu, a member of the Musavat Party and the National Council, and one of the Azerbaijani government’s most vocal critics, has been on a hunger strike for 35 days in protest of his imprisonment. His health has significantly deteriorated, sparking urgent concerns from both his family and legal representatives.

On May 5, his lawyer Nemat Karimli visited him at the Medical Facility of the Penitentiary Service. According to Karimli, Yaqublu is no longer able to sleep and managed to rest on the night of May 4 only after receiving a “Dimedrol” injection. Karimli also reported that Yaqublu continues to lose weight and suffers from memory loss, making him unable to recall his weight or other health indicators. The politician has complained of severe body pain and has difficulty sitting and standing.

“Let’s hope that tomorrow, on May 6, the Baku Court of Appeal will, for the first time in its life, make a lawful decision,” said Karimli. “A motion has been submitted and entered into the system regarding the change of the pretrial detention measure. This issue is among the key points of discussion, and we hope for a legal and fair ruling from the court.”

On May 4, Yaqublu’s daughter, Nigar Həzi, visited him in prison and described his condition as life-threatening.

“Tofiq Yaqublu’s weight has dropped to 77.8 kg. His condition is extremely bad. There is even doubt that he will survive until the court date. He cannot walk, his vision is extremely poor. They brought him to the visit in a wheelchair. His eyelids could barely open. He cannot keep his head and body balanced. His voice was barely audible. He was speaking incoherently. He will not survive until the next visit,” Nigar Yaqublu said.

She added that the family is deeply alarmed about his life. “My father is dying. Irreversible things could happen at any moment. If something happens to him, who will answer to us? You are responsible for Tofiq Yaqublu’s life,” she stated.

Nigar Həzi has called on the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) and the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice to allow doctor Adil Qeybulla to examine her father.

Tofiq Yaqublu was arrested in December 2023. On March 10, 2025, the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced him to 9 years in prison after finding him guilty of fraud and document forgery. In response, he began a hunger strike on April 1.

This is not the first hunger strike for the opposition figure. On March 22, 2020, Yaqublu went on a 17-day hunger strike in protest of a previous arrest. His sentence at that time—4 years and 3 months—was later replaced with a suspended sentence after his health worsened.

The appeal hearing for Yaqublu’s latest conviction is scheduled for May 6, 2025. Recognized as a prisoner of conscience, Yaqublu remains one of the most persistent critics of the Aliyev family, who have ruled Azerbaijan for 32 years.