Fossil fuels

16th AUGUST 2024, LONDON - Twenty-five UK lawmakers have joined campaign groups in calling on the President of Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release renowned economist Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, detained in Azerbaijan on fabricated charges with no trial date, after an Azerbaijani judge ‘’froze’’ his case. 

Dr Ibadoghlu, a senior visiting fellow at the London School of Economics, was severely beaten by police and imprisoned while visiting his home country Azerbaijan last summer.  

Azerbaijani courts had been preparing to set a date for Dr Ibadoghlu’s trial this summer based on trumped up allegations. But according to a statement by Dr Ibagoghlu’s  lawyer, the courts have now announced an indefinite “freeze” on his case, ostensibly due to his ill-health. Dr Ibadoghlu remains in detention and is not free to leave the country or to seek the medical care he needs.   

Dr Ibadoghlu’s son Ibad Bayramov today delivered a letter to the Azerbaijan embassy in London and visited Westminster to raise awareness of the plight of his father, who he describes as being held hostage by the Azari government.    

The letter was signed by the Leader of Plaid Cyrmu Rhun ap Iorweth, Baron Alf Dubs and the Co-leader of the Scottish Green’s Patrick Harvie along with eight British MPs, who join Global Witness, Transparency International and the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition in calling for Dr Ibadoghlu’s unconditional release.  

Dr Ibadoghlu is one of hundreds of reported political prisoners in Azerbaijan. His arrest came after he published an article that criticized the country’s oil and gas policies and created a charity to return public resources seized by Azeri oligarchs to the people of Azerbaijan.  

Azerbaijan is hosting the global climate conference COP29 in November and has come under criticism after Global Witness revealed that the petrostate plans to increase its fossil fuel production by a third over the next decade.   

Dr Ibadoghlu was denied vital medical treatment while in jail and his health, already fragile due to diabetes and high blood pressure, has reportedly deteriorated during his detention. Under house arrest, the Azeri authorities continued to restrict his access to medical care, according to family members.  

Ibad said: 

“I worry every moment of every day about my Dad’s treatment due to this politically motivated detention. Just as any son would want to see their father, we are desperate to have him back. He suffers greatly, and we need to know that he is okay. We call on President Aliyev to release him now and unconditionally." 

Patrick Harvie, Co-Leader of the Scottish Green Party, said: 

“Across much of the world, authoritarian regimes abuse their power to crack down on legitimate dissent and criticism, often with the complicity of corporate interests. It is essential that our own Government challenges this at the highest level. Whether the issue is energy and climate policy, corruption, undemocratic government or other abuses, the voices of dissent need to be heard without fear of retribution. “ 

Alice Harrison, Fossil Fuels Campaign Lead at Global Witness adds: 

“The Azerbaijani government is promoting this year’s climate summit as a “COP of peace” while threatening its neighbour Armenia with invasion and keeping Gubad Ibadoghlu hostage after he dared to criticise the Aliyev regime. The government must release Dr. Ibadoghlu and its other political prisoners to uphold basic human rights and to have any hope of a successful COP.” 

ENDS  

NOTES FOR EDITORS

  • The statement from Dr. Ibadoghlu’s lawyers can be viewed upon request. 

  • Your publication has full rights to use any of the photos from the action for the news article: Here

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