Azerbaijani political prisoner and opposition figure Tofig Yagublu has been awarded the prestigious World Freedom Congress award, according to his daughter, Nigar Hazi.

Human rights activist Arif Yunus explained that Yagublu was nominated by Leyla Yunus, who noted his significant contribution to the struggle for democracy in Azerbaijan. The award was given to Yagublu for his courage and efforts to promote democratic values.

"Tofig Yagublu became a symbol of the struggle for democracy in Azerbaijan and was sentenced to nine years in prison on clearly fabricated charges. Based on the results of the vote, the World Freedom Congress award was given to him for his courage and contribution to the struggle for democracy," Arif Yunus noted.

In March, a Baku court sentenced Tofig Yagublu to nine years in prison. The defendant cited a lack of evidence and the falsification of the criminal case. Yagublu is known for criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities. In late 2023, he was arrested on charges of fraud and document forgery. Prior to this, the politician had been repeatedly subjected to criminal and administrative prosecution. International organizations have recognized him as a prisoner of conscience.