Tofiq Yaqublu Transferred to Medical Facility: “Even if I Know I Will Die, I Will Not Stop My Hunger Strike”

Tofiq Yaqublu, a member of the Musavat Party and the National Council, has been on a hunger strike for 27 days. On April 27, his condition worsened, and he was transferred to the Penitentiary Service’s Medical Facility for further examination. Doctor Adil Qeybulla posted on his Facebook that he had examined Yaqublu on April 26 in the detention center in Umbaq and recommended that he be moved to the medical facility due to his deteriorating health. "Considering the 26th day of his hunger strike, his age, and underlying health conditions, it was advised to transfer him for detailed examinations. He is now in the medical facility, and more tests will continue from April 28," the doctor wrote.

Yaqublu’s daughter, Nigar Həzi, reported that her father had confirmed in a phone call that he had been transferred to the medical facility. She also stated that her father had lost over 14 kilograms during his 26-day hunger strike. "His blood pressure dropped further to 72/107. His saturation is 96, temperature 36.1, and heart rate is 88. His condition worsens every minute, and irreversible consequences could happen soon," Nigar said.

She also criticized the lack of proper medical care, stating that her father has not been transferred to a civilian hospital, and his doctor is not allowed to monitor him closely. She argued that the court hearing, scheduled for May 6, essentially means reviewing complaints after Yaqublu’s death, calling this behavior "murder." “Free Tofiq Yaqublu, or you will be responsible for his death,” Nigar added.

Yaqublu, who began his hunger strike on April 1 demanding his release, was sentenced to nine years in prison on March 10 for fraud and forgery of documents. He has been a prominent critic of the Aliyev family, which has ruled Azerbaijan for over three decades, and has been arrested eight times during this period. He is recognized as a prisoner of conscience.

International attention to Yaqublu’s case has been growing. On April 26, U.S. Congress member Eleanor Holmes Norton called for Yaqublu's release in a post on her "X" account.

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee also issued a statement urging his release. German MP Frank Schwabe, a representative in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, expressed his concerns about Yaqublu's health and imprisonment.

On the same day, the U.S. Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission announced that the repression in Azerbaijan would be discussed in Congress, highlighting the poor human rights situation in the country.

Yaqublu’s appellate hearing is scheduled for May 6, but his daughter fears that it may be too late. “I don’t even know if my father will survive until the appellate court,” she said, quoting him as saying, “Even if I know I will die, I will not stop my hunger strike. It’s either freedom or death!”