Imprisoned Azerbaijani opposition politician Tofig Yagublu has been on hunger strike for 24 days, with his family reporting a deterioration in his health and restrictions on communication.

In a statement shared on social media, his daughter Nigar Hazi said a recent phone call with her father was cut short after a few minutes, despite legal provisions allowing longer conversations.

She also alleged that Yaqublu has been denied adequate medical care and access to independent doctors.

Yagublu’s lawyer, who visited him on March 17, said his condition had weakened significantly, citing dizziness and physical exhaustion. According to the family, regular medical monitoring has also become inconsistent in recent days.

Nigar Hazi also said that requests to allow doctor Adil Geybulla access have gone unanswered and that she has submitted official complaints to the Ministry of Justice and the Penitentiary Service.

She criticized the Ombudsman’s Office:

“Representatives visited him once and consider their job done. We still haven’t seen any reaction.”

She directly assigned responsibility:

“His condition is worsening every hour. As a family, we are very concerned. Full responsibility for his life lies with Ilham Aliyev and his government.”

Tofig Yagublu, a long-time government critic, was sentenced to nine years in prison in March 2025 on charges of fraud and document forgery, which he denies. He began his hunger strike in February of 2026 in protest against being placed in a punishment cell.

His appeal is currently pending before the Supreme Court, with no final decision announced.

Azerbaijani authorities have not publicly responded to the latest allegations regarding his treatment in detention.

International human rights groups have previously described Yagublu as a political prisoner.