BAKU -- A jailed Azerbaijani human rights activist's social defender and supporter has been attacked in Baku.

Gunay Ismayilova told RFE/RL that an unknown man came up behind her and grabbed her neck as she walked near her apartment block in Baku the night of January 26.

Gunay Ismayilova is one of several "social defenders" of rights activist Rasul Cafarov, whose trial is under way in Baku.

Ismayilova says after being grabbed she immediately pushed backwards and the attacker lessened his grip on her.

As Ismayilova escaped his grasp and screamed, the assailant ran away. 

Ismayilova says she does not think the attack was an attempted robbery.

Cafarov, who was arrested in August, has been charged with tax evasion, illegal entrepreneurship, abuse of office, and forgery.

His supporters say the charges are politically motivated.