The health damage to Afghan Sadygov due to his hunger strike may be irreversible – Georgian human rights activists

Afghan Sadygov, the head of the Azerbaijani website Azel.TV, who was arrested in Georgia at the request of Baku, ended his dry hunger strike on February 6, which he had started on February 2. However, he is still refusing food and is only drinking water. His hunger strike has now lasted 142 days, said his wife, Sevinc Sadygova, in an interview with the Turan agency on February 7. The Georgian Center for Social Justice (CSJ), which defends Afghan Sadygov's rights, issued a statement expressing concern about his condition.

Sadygov switched to a dry hunger strike on February 2, and on the 5th, his condition worsened significantly, and he was unconscious for several hours. "On February 6, Afghan Sadygov, after persistent requests from his family and recommendations from his lawyers, agreed to drink water," the statement reads.

Afghan Sadygov has been on hunger strike for 142 days at the detention facility for accused individuals, and his condition is critical. Since his arrest, he has lost 40 kg. The damage to his health after such a long hunger strike may be irreversible.

* Afghan Sadygov, along with his family, arrived in Georgia in December 2023, fearing persecution. In July, he was not allowed to leave Georgia for Türkiye, with the authorities saying he could only return to Azerbaijan.

In August 2024, at Azerbaijan's request, Sadygov was taken into custody. He is accused of extortion in Baku, and extradition is being sought. Since September 21, he has been on hunger strike in protest against the Georgian authorities' refusal to grant him political asylum.

On November 28, 2024, the Tbilisi City Court decided to extradite him to Azerbaijan. On January 15, 2025, the appellate court upheld this decision, and on January 31, the Tbilisi court extended Sadygov's arrest for another three months.