The health condition of Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Sadygov has worsened significantly and is now critically severe, according to a statement released by the Social Justice Center.
The organization, which is advocating for his rights, reports that Sadygov has been on a hunger strike for 145 days and currently weighs only 56 kilograms, having lost over 40 kilograms since his detention.
"Today, lawyers from the Social Justice Center visited Afghan Sadygov at the N18 Medical Facility for Defendants and Convicts. Unfortunately, the journalist, who is on a hunger strike, still refuses to drink water or take essential supplements necessary for sustaining his health. Sadygov is now struggling to speak, requires a wheelchair to move, and periodically loses consciousness.
On February 5, the Social Justice Center reported that his health had deteriorated to a critical level, and he was unconscious for several hours. Medical staff at the N18 facility managed to stabilize his condition.
On February 2, 2025, following a prolonged hunger strike, Sadygov declared an absolute hunger strike, refusing even water. His drastic decision came after the court extended his pretrial detention by three months, despite the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) imposing an interim measure prohibiting his extradition to Azerbaijan.
On February 6, following his family's request and lawyers’ recommendations, Sadygov agreed to resume drinking water. However, he currently refuses both water and essential nutrients, which were previously administered intravenously with his consent.
Having now been on a hunger strike for 145 days, Sadygov’s health is in an extremely precarious state. His current weight is 56 kilograms, down by more than 40 kilograms since his detention. According to the penitentiary facility’s doctors, prolonged starvation may cause irreversible damage to his health.
Sadygov’s situation is further complicated by his previous 242-day hunger strike after he was unlawfully arrested for a second time in Azerbaijan in 2020 and sentenced to seven years in prison. His health deteriorated so severely during that period that he required prolonged rehabilitation and medical treatment abroad.
The Social Justice Center Calls On:The Public Defender of Georgia:To establish a special multidisciplinary commission to regularly monitor Afghan Sadygov’s condition.To enhance state mediation and psycho-social support processes for the detainee.Anri Okhanashvili:Considering Sadygov’s critical condition and the ECHR’s ruling, to make an individual decision against his extradition to Azerbaijan, as permitted by Georgia’s "Law on International Cooperation in Criminal Matters."The Social Justice Center remains committed to actively defending Afghan Sadygov’s rights and will continue to provide updates to the public regarding his condition and the ongoing proceedings at the European Court of Human Rights," the statement concludes.
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