Tofig Yagublu fainted while on hunger strike in pretrial detention center

Azerbaijani opposition figure Tofig Yagublu fainted on the 18th day of his hunger strike in a pretrial detention center. His condition is deteriorating daily, his daughter and lawyer stated.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," Azerbaijani opposition politician Tofig Yagublu has been placed in solitary confinement. The politician's daughter links the punishment to her brother's participation in a protest in Washington, D.C., outside the hotel where the Azerbaijani president was staying. In protest, Yagublu went on a hunger strike. On March 2, his relatives reported that his health had noticeably worsened. By March 10, Yagublu had lost 10 kilograms, but refused to end the protest.

Lawyer Nemat Karimli visited Tofig Yagublu in Baku's SIZO-1 on March 13, the politician's daughter, Nigar Hazi, reported. She noted that Yagublu has been on hunger strike for 19 days.

“The lawyer said that my father’s dizziness had increased, and on March 12, he fainted. It became difficult for him to walk, and his face had darkened even more. On March 13, my father chose to see his lawyer first and then undergo a medical examination, so we don’t know the results of the examination yet. But in recent days, his blood pressure has been consistently low, never rising above 90 over 60. His pulse has also weakened, dropping to 70 beats per minute,” Khazi told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

She emphasized that Yagublu is “rapidly losing weight” and now weighs 83.5 kg instead of 95. His daughter also expressed outrage at the way Yagublu is being treated in the detention center.

“Even while on hunger strike, my father is not left alone. On March 12, for some reason, they took away his wristwatch. A man, "A man who has become weak and blind due to the hunger strike is being forced to look up at the television every time he needs to find out the time. This man is on his 19th day of hunger strike, and they're inflicting additional torment on him; it's simply inhumane," Khazi said.

On social media, she expressed concern for the politician's health and life. "My father's health is already entering a critical stage. If my father is not released, the end of the current hunger strike means inevitable death. But my father is adamant and continues his hunger strike. The holidays are approaching (March 20-21 marks the spring holiday of Novruz, which coincides with Ramadan this year - ed. "Caucasian Knot"). But I hope these holidays don't turn into mourning for our family. Don't kill me, release me!" she wrote on Facebook*.

Karimli's lawyer, speaking with a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, confirmed that Yagublu's condition is rapidly deteriorating. "Tofig Yagublu is rapidly losing weight every day. He suffers from severe dizziness, has already begun to lose consciousness, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to walk," the lawyer noted.

"Caucasian Knot" was unable to obtain comment from the Penitentiary Service.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that on May 10, 2025, at the request of his family, Yagublu agreed to end his 40-day hunger strike, which he was conducting in protest of his nine-year sentence for fraud. The politician's repeated hunger strikes are described in a biographical note posted on "Caucasian Knot."