Yagublu's health condition before appeal hearing concerns relatives

Tofig Yagublu, an Azerbaijani oppositionist, who has been on a hunger strike for 35 days, was brought to a meeting with his relatives in a wheelchair; his vision and speech have deteriorated greatly, but a doctor is not allowed to examine him. His relatives have doubted that he’ll be able to attend the hearing of the appeal complaint against his verdict.

Tofig's daughter has reported that May 5 is the 35th day of her father’s hunger strike.

"Today (May 5) my father is on the 35th day of his hunger strike. Yesterday we visited him at the medical unit of the Penitentiary Service. His health condition is extremely grave. We don’t know whether he’ll be able to attend the hearing of his appeal, which is scheduled for May 6. He was brought to the meeting with us in a wheelchair. He has almost lost his vision, which is very weak. My father can no longer maintain the balance of his head and body. His eyelids barely open. His speech is confused, he spoke incoherently. He forgets what he started talking about. After my father was transferred to the above medical unit, our family doctor Adil Geibulla is still not allowed to visit him," Nigyar Khazi, the daughter, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to medical indicators, the health condition of a person who is on the 35th day of his hunger strike should be assessed as "grave," doctor Geibulla told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"During his hunger strike, we gave him three infusions of water-salt solutions to maintain the body's water-electrolyte balance. This was done in line with the international protocols for supporting individuals on hunger strike in jail. At the same time, the body must receive essential amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Otherwise, these resources in the body are depleted for some time, and a phenomenon called ‘autophagy’ occurs. During a long hunger strike, the body draws these substances from its own resources, but this can only continue for a while, then the body becomes exhausted, muscles atrophy, and brain function is impaired," doctor Geibulla has explained, believing that Yagublu needs urgent medical care.

"There are experienced doctors at the medical unit. If they allow me, I’ll also do everything possible. However, a human body has a certain limit to withstand a hunger strike. Tofig Yagublu is approaching this limit given his age (65 years old) and the consequences of his previous long hunger strikes for his body," the doctor has added.

No officials from the Penitentiary Service were unavailable for comments.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 5, 2025 at 12:12 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.