An exiled Azerbaijani human rights defender has been stabbed at his home in Mulhouse, France.

Vidadi Isgandarli was reportedly attacked in the early hours of Sunday.

The news was shared on social media by Azerbaijani investigative journalist Afgan Mukhtarli.

‘Vidadi Isgandarli was attacked by three unknown persons who stabbed him. The situation is as serious as it sounds. He was stabbed more than four times’, Mukhtarli wrote on Facebook. 

He added that Isgandarli was taken to a local hospital where he remains in intensive care.

According to Turan, only one of the attackers stabbed Isgandarli, with the remaining two standing by the door. Isgandarli reportedly defended himself, leading to most of the stab wounds being directed to his arm; some, however, hit him on the head. Despite his injuries, he reportedly managed to push the attackers out before calling the police.

Political prisoner turns political refugee 

Isgandarli first gained attention for running in the 2010 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate. According to local media, on the actual day of voting, Isgandarli stole damaged ballots from several voting stations in order to prevent ballot fraud. 

The following year, he was detained at a protest on 17 April organised by the ‘Public Chamber’ opposition coalition. He was initially sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention, but was later remanded to pre-trial detention after being charged with the prevention of voting rights by threat or use of force, and interfering or influencing the work of the election commissions by the threat or use of force. 

In August 2011, he was sentenced to three years in prison. 

A little over a year later, in December 2012, he was released under an amnesty decree signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. 

Shortly after, he emigrated to France, where he continued to criticise the government and Aliyev, including on his YouTube channel. He became known for his harsh and emotional censures of the government, as well as some unethical and insulting statements. 

According to Voice of America, Isgandarli was previously attacked at his home two years ago. At the time, the police determined that it was the work of local criminal groups; however, Isgandarli alleged the orders to attack him came from the Azerbaijani authorities.