Yagublu’s relatives report threat to his life

Azerbaijani opposition activist Tofig Yagublu has started a dry hunger strike because he can no longer drink water. The “Musavat” Party has called a meeting to discuss actions to save the activist.

On the 37th day of his hunger strike, Tofig Yagublu can no longer drink water, and he has effectively gone on a dry hunger strike, his advocate Fakhraddin Mekhdiev reported after visiting the activist on May 7. Tofig Yagublu has lost more than 21 kg within 37 days, politician’s daughter Nigyar Khazi reported on her page in Facebook*, publishing a video commentary by the advocate.

According to the advocate Fakhraddin Mekhdiev’s report, Tofig Yagublu has become very weak and could barely speak, and his speech was very slow. The activist complained of dizziness and severe abdominal pain, and his weight dropped to 76.2 kg. “When Tofig Yagublu was saying goodbye to me, he said: ‘I am dying, and I hear the sounds of death. This is a very scary moment,” the advocate explained.

Adil Geibulla, a doctor supervising Tofig Yagublu, who was not allowed into the medical facility of the Azerbaijan Penitentiary Service after the opposition activist began his hunger strike, drew attention to the fact that the politician suffers from a number of diseases, including bronchial asthma. The doctor notes that “the mineral composition of Azerbaijani drinking waters significantly lags behind international standards” and when a person consumes such water, a long hunger strike becomes critical for the body of an elderly person, which can lead to death. According to the doctor’s report, the politician’s physical recovery is in doubt, “even if Tofig Yagublu stops his hunger strike today and begins to undergo medical treatment.”

The “Musavat” Party announced a meeting for May 8 to discuss the campaign to save Tofig Yagublu and release him. All supporters of the politician and “especially the families of prisoners” are invited to the event, Tofig Yagublu’s daughter Nigyar Khazi notes. “This problem concerns not only Tofig Yagublu. This is also the problem of all political prisoners,” the politician’s daughter wrote.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 8, 2025 at 04:52 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

*On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.