Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International, and other NGOs have issued a joint statement urging Azerbaijan to release wrongfully imprisoned academic Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu and other political prisoners. The signatories have closely monitored Ibadoghlu’s case since his arrest on July 23, 2023, issuing several statements advocating for his “immediate and unconditional release.”
The statement condemns the “ongoing crackdown against civil society in Azerbaijan” and highlights the plight of “estimated hundreds” of individuals detained on politically motivated charges, including human rights activists, journalists, and members of the political opposition. It calls on the Azerbaijani government to honor its international human rights obligations and to drop all charges against individuals detained for their legitimate work.
Ibadoghlu, an academic, anti-corruption expert, and chairman of the Azerbaijan Democracy and Prosperity Movement, was arrested alongside his wife in 2023 following a staged traffic incident. He faces up to 17 years in prison on charges related to counterfeit currency and extremist materials, which human rights groups claim are fabricated. His wife was released, but Ibadoghlu spent nine months in pretrial detention with restricted access to medical care before being placed under house arrest.
HRW’s associate director for Europe and Central Asia, Giorgi Gogia, criticized the arrest as part of a “longstanding pattern of pursuing dubious charges against government critics.” The European Parliament has also called for the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, warning of potential sanctions.
Azerbaijan has faced criticism for blocking news websites, arresting journalists who report on government corruption, and persecuting human rights activists. As the country hosts the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) this year, the NGOs encourage other member states to pressure Azerbaijan to adhere to its human rights commitments.