Heydar Aliyev Foundation to pay for treatment of injured human rights activist

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation is covering the costs of treating Azerbaijani human rights activist Ogtay Gyulalyev, who fell into a coma after being hit by a car several days ago. 

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, established in 2004, is headed by First Lady and Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva.

A few days ago Gulaliyev underwent surgery in Baku, but did not wake from his coma.  

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation invited Turkish doctors who decided that treatment should be continued in Istanbul.

Gulaliyev has since been flown to Turkey for treatment, reports Turan.

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Activists, journalists, and colleagues of the human rights activist believe that the doctors in Baku are responsible for Gulaliyev’s current condition. 

Azerbaijani human rights activist Ogtay Gulaliyev has been hit by a car; he had surgery but his life may be in danger. Some believe that this was not an accident, but an attempt on his life. 

Details on the incident

Oqtay Gulaliyev is the coordinator of the Azerbaijani Committee Against Repression and Torture.

On the evening of October 29, he was returning from a press conference on a new campaign against torture.  At a crosswalk, Gulaliyev was hit by a taxi; this moment was recorded on video by a car which was nearby.

The taxi driver stopped and took Ogtay Gyulalyev to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with damage to the skull and brain.  On October 30, a neurosurgical operation was performed on the human rights activist, says Turan.

“Now the main thing is resuscitation and rehabilitation.  The effects of brain compression have yet to be assessed. However, there is hope for a recovery,” says the doctor.

 A criminal case has been instituted against the driver under the article on violation of traffic rules and causing damage to health.

Accident or assassination attempt?

Some colleagues of Oqtay Gulaliyev, as well as other opposition activists, are adamant that the event was intentional.

The victim’s son, Tabriz Gulaliyev: “Such imprudence is simply impossible!  The video shows that the driver is purposely running over my father.”

Lawyer Elchin Sadiqov: “I have watched the video many times and am sure that this is an attempt [on his life].”

Fazil Mammadov, an activist in the field of traffic: “It is very difficult to say unequivocally whether it was intentional or accidental.  But I am 95 percent sure that the driver began to slow down only after the impact. ”

Law enforcement agencies refute these assumptions.