Representatives of the Council of Europe have called on Azerbaijani authorities to release human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Specifically, PACE rapporteur on political prisoners Azadeh Rojhan asserts that his prosecution is political in nature and that fundamental principles of a fair trial were violated during the proceedings.
Azerbaijani opposition politician Tofig Yagublu has ended his 26-day hunger strike. This information was released by his daughter, Nigar Khezin. The decision to end the protest was made after contacting the prisoner.
Yagublu's family and friends convinced him to end his protest by informing him of the public reaction and international attention to his case. In particular, they informed him of the protective measures being taken in the United States and the interest of the US Congress in his situation.
Nigar Khezin also mentioned the ongoing legal work in the US on her father's case, the details of which will be disclosed later. On the day of his hunger strike, Yagublu was visited by family members who brought him food. He thanked everyone for their support and congratulated his fellow citizens on the Novruz holiday.
As a reminder, Tofig Yagublu, a member of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) and the Musavat Party's Coordination Center, was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2025 on charges of fraud and document forgery. Yagublu denies these charges, claiming his prosecution is politically motivated.