Azerbaijani opposition leader Ashurov ended his hunger strike in prison.

Convicted Azerbaijani opposition figure Samir Ashurov has ended his hunger strike, which he had been conducting in protest of beatings by prison staff.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on December 29, it was reported that Samir Ashurov had gone on a hunger strike in protest of violence after a high-ranking prison administration official struck him in the face. Prior to this, Ashurov had faced pressure, including being prevented from speaking to his wife on the phone.

Samir Ashurov ended his hunger strike, which he began on December 28, his wife, Nurana Ashurova, told a Caucasian Knot correspondent today.

After eight days of hunger strike, he ended his protest.

"Samir called from the prison yesterday (January 4). After eight days of hunger strike, he ended his protest. Samir reported that his demands had been met. His right to make phone calls had been restored. Samir was also assured that physical violence would no longer be used against him," Nurana Ashurova said.

According to her, her husband's condition worsened as a result of the hunger strike. "Samir said he was feeling unwell, experiencing pain in his lungs, and could barely stand. I hope the prison administration will keep their word and not only stop beating Samir, but also create conditions for him to have his lungs treated. Samir also suffers from diabetes and a heart condition and needs effective medical care," said the opposition leader's wife.

The woman noted that her husband remains cheerful and "sent greetings and gratitude to all those who supported him" during his hunger strike and imprisonment.

The Penitentiary Service was unable to comment, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported today.

As a reminder, in November 2025, six prisoners of Baku Penal Colony No. 2, including Samir Ashurov (investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, economist Fazil Gasimov, trade union activist Afiyaddin Mammadov, activist Lachin Veliyev, and members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Mehman Aliyev and Samir Ashurov), announced the creation of a "Committee for the Protection of Political Prisoners." They explained this decision by saying that violations of human rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan "have reached a critical level and become systematic."

After the committee's creation, pressure came to bear on its organizers. In particular, Samir Ashurov received threats, and Lachin Veliev was transferred to another prison colony, where he was beaten and insulted by security forces.

02:26 October 8, 2025

The number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan has approached 400

The updated list of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, compiled by human rights activists, includes 392 people. Over the past four months, 17 people have been added to the list. The list's authors identified the active persecution of women for political reasons as a new trend.

In 2025, Azerbaijani authorities intensified repression against the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan. This happened due to the PFPA's consistent fight against the rise of authoritarianism and corruption in the country. There is no other party in Azerbaijan that has been so "permanently subjected to pressure, persecution, and repression" over the past 20 years, Jamil Hasanli, chairman of the National Council of Democratic Forces, told the Caucasian Knot. The number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan reached its highest point in 2024 since the country's 23-year membership in the Council of Europe, according to the Caucasian Knot report "Key Points About the Record Number of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan." At the same time, the Azerbaijani authorities deny the existence of political prisoners in the country.