Yagublu's health condition worsens significantly due to hunger strike

On the ninth day of his hunger strike, Tofig Yagublu, an Azerbaijani oppositionist, lost consciousness. His verdict may be changed, if the international community puts pressure on Azerbaijani authorities, human rights defenders and his relatives believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the court sentenced Yagublu to four years and three months in prison.

His daughter, Nigyar Khazi, has stressed that none of official bodies had ever asked about Tofig's state of health.

"If I die, I'll know that I died for my homeland. Now I am 60 ... It's better to either die now or be released than to live in jails," the daughter quotes her father as saying.

His verdict was condemned by the USA, the European Union, Embassies of Great Britain and France, as well as international human rights organizations, Ms Khazi has added.

Elshan Gasanov, the coordinator of the Union "For Freedom of Political Prisoners", believes that authorities can release Yagublu only under pressure from the West and threat of sanctions.

Khikmet Gadjizade, the head of the FAR CENTRE for Political and Economic Studies, believes that the consolidated position of the West can contribute to Yagublu's release. According to his version, authorities could decorate Yagublu's release as a manifestation not of their weakness, but of the highest humanism of the country's leadership.