BAKU — 2011 · Unsolved Case
Murder of Writer Rafiq Tagi
Azerbaijani writer and journalist Rafiq Tagi was stabbed by an unidentified attacker while returning home in Baku on the night of 19 November 2011; the attacker fled. Tagi underwent surgery and appeared to be recovering, even telling a radio station shortly before his death that his condition was stable. But he died suddenly in hospital on 23 November 2011, and his family questioned the circumstances. Tagi was known for writing critically about religious authorities and political figures. The investigation was suspended without identifying the attacker. In July 2022 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Azerbaijan had violated the right to life by failing to investigate effectively and ordered compensation to his wife.
- Date
- 2011
- Place
- Baku, Azerbaijan, Baku, AZ
- Category
- Unsolved Case
- Case Status
- Unsolved
- Coordinates
- 40.4100, 49.8700 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 19 November 2011Tagi was stabbed in Baku; the attacker fled.
- 23 November 2011He died suddenly in hospital while seemingly recovering after surgery.
- 2013The investigation was suspended without identifying the perpetrators.
- 7 July 2022The ECHR found a violation of the right to life.
Sources
- RFE/RL — Probe Ended Into Death Of Rafiq Tagi rferl.org ↗
- Index on Censorship — Azerbaijan loses Rafiq Tagi after stabbing indexoncensorship.org ↗
- JAMnews — Government to pay compensation to Tagi's wife jam-news.net ↗
- RFE/RL
- Index on Censorship
- JAMnews
Source grade B: at least one verifiable linked source. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.