Relatives of Tofig Yagublu request doctors' control over his hunger strike

Opposition politician Tofig Yagublu, sentenced in a case on disorderly conduct, claimed that he would continue his hunger strike until he was released. The Azerbaijani authorities may reconsider the verdict under the pressure from the international community, believes Elshan Gasanov, the head of the Centre for Monitoring Political Prisoners.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 3, the court sentenced Tofig Yagublu to 4 years and 3 months of imprisonment. Dozens of activists who approached the court building to support Tofig Yagublu held a spontaneous protest action against the court's decision.

On September 3, after the pronouncement of the verdict, Nigyar Khazi, a daughter of the sentenced politician, visited her father at the Baku SIZO-2 (pre-trial prison) in the Shuvalan village.

"On the second day of his hunger strike, the father looked pale and tired. However, he stays in good spirit and is determined to continue his hunger strike until the end. He said: 'Either they will release me or I will die.' I didn't even ask him to stop the hunger strike, because I know such requests will not influence his decision. The father said that no one could change his decision. He told me: 'I ask that no one requests me to stop my hunger strike.' The father emphasized that he would not back down from his demand. He says that he intends not to put up with arbitrariness anymore," Nigyar Khazi told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Today, we have learned from our sources that he is still kept in a cell and has not been transferred to a medical ward under the supervision of doctors. We appealed to the Ombudsman's office and officially announced the hunger strike of my father. They promised to visit him," added the daughter of Tofig Yagublu.

"We will likely receive the text of the verdict next week, and then we will be preparing an appeal," said Nemat Kerimli, an advocate of the politician.

The quick consideration of the appeal depends on the political will of the authorities, believes Elshan Gasanov, the head of the Centre for Monitoring Political Prisoners. "The conviction of Tofig Yagublu has already provoked a great international response and a violent reaction on social networks. If there is strong international pressure, the case can be quickly reconsidered," the human rights defender said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 4, 2020 at 04:57 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.