Ilgar Nasibov, a former freelance photographer for RFE/RL's Azerbaijani service, was badly beaten by unknown assailants in the country's Naxcivan exclave.
Nasibov was attacked late on August 21 while he was in the office of the Democracy and NGO Development Resource Center, the only independent rights organization operating in the province.
He was found unconscious and suffered severe head trauma, a broken nose, fractured ribs, and serious blood loss.
Nasibov's wife, Malahat, who also worked as a correspondent for RFE/RL, is the co-founder of the Resource Center. She received Norway's prestigious Rafto prize for human rights work in 2009.
The Nasibovs both have been harassed, beaten and detained on several occasions in connection with their reporting and human rights work in Azerbaijan.
Ilgar Nasibov has previously filed cases with the European Court of Human Rights.
The attack comes amidst a crackdown against independent journalists and activists in Azerbaijan, including the arrest of prominent human rights defender Leyla Yunus on July 31.