Mehman Huseynov's Operation in Switzerland Successful

Baku / 11.09.20 / Turan: Doctors at the University Hospital of Geneva have successfully removed a cancerous tumor from the Azerbaijani human rights activist and blogger Mehman Huseynov. As his brother, IRFS director Emin Huseynov told Turan, the operation took place on September 8 and lasted about 10 hours.

On September 9, the patient was transferred to the ward, where he will be under the supervision of doctors for two to three weeks, after which he will be discharged. Before the operation, Mehman Huseynov underwent a two-month course of radiation therapy, which significantly localized the tumor.

Recall that Mehman Huseynov's condition worsened on December 27 after a brutal beating by the police, who illegally detained him after a protest in front of the Ministry of Internal Affairs demanding the release of musician Parviz Guluzadeh, arrested on trumped-up charges.

For the next two weeks, the blogger could not have the traces of beating registered in Baku clinics, and be prescribed an examination and treatment. For this reason, Mehman Huseynov was forced to be examined in Georgia, where doctors diagnosed him with a rare oncological disease, recommending urgent treatment in Europe.

In early March, he was examined at the University Hospital of Geneva, where the oncological diagnosis was confirmed.

Due to the lack of health insurance that could cover the huge costs of treatment, colleagues and partner international organizations launched an unprecedented campaign of solidarity, raising the required amount. Thanks to this, Mehman Huseynov was able to restore his health.

Mehman Huseynov, as well as his family and colleagues from the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) express their gratitude to the thousands of people in Azerbaijan and other countries who donated about $ 83,000 through the GoFundMe platform for his treatment (https://gf.me/u/ yk37i6)

The human rights defender and his family express gratitude to the Human Rights House Foundation (Norway), the Tbilisi Human Rights House, Turan Information Agency (Azerbaijan), the Danish Union of Journalists, International Media Support (Denmark), Foundation Inden Vreemde (Netherlands), Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland), donors from Switzerland, Germany and Norway (who wished to remain anonymous) and the President of INGOs Conference of the Council of Europe, who were able to mobilize financial assistance of about 50 thousand US dollars.

Mehman Huseynov will stay for the next few weeks in postoperative treatment in Geneva, after which he will continue his rehabilitation on an outpatient basis until mid-October.

By the end of October, Mehman Huseynov plans to return to Azerbaijan and continue his human rights and journalistic activities. —06D—