Azerbaijani economist Gubad Ibadoghlu is currently under house arrest on politically motivated charges. He is not allowed to leave the country to receive critical medical care. His family reports that his heart condition, including a worsening aortic aneurysm, has deteriorated significantly, placing his life at immediate risk. Ibadoghlu now suffers from severe chest pain and shortness of breath. Medical tests indicate his heart condition requires urgent surgery, but local hospitals lack the capability to perform the necessary procedure. His family calls for immediate action to allow Ibadoghlu access to life-saving treatment abroad before his condition worsens further.
Here’s what you can do:
Write to the President of Azerbaijan urging him to:
- Immediately release Gubad Ibadoghlu.
- Lift his travel ban without delay so he can access necessary health care abroad.
- Drop all politically motivated charges against him.
- End the misuse of the criminal justice system in Azerbaijan to target government critics.
Write to:
President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev Office of the President of Azerbaijan
19 Istiqlaliyyat Street
Baku AZ1066,
Azerbaijan
Email: office@pa.gov.az
Salutation: Dear President Aliyev,
And copy:
Mr. Vasif Cingiz Oglu Abutalibov
Chargé d’affaires, a.i.
Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan
275 Slater Street, Suite 1203
Ottawa, ON K1P 5H9
Tel: (613) 288-0497 Fax: (613) 230-8089
Email: reception@azembassy.ca
Background
Gubad Ibadoghlu, a respected Azerbaijani economist and political activist, leads the Azerbaijan Democracy and Prosperity Movement, founded in 2014. Despite its peaceful mission, authorities have arbitrarily refused to register the movement as a political party.
As a senior visiting scholar at the London School of Economics, Ibadoghlu also directed the Economic Research Centre, an NGO focused on public finance, good governance, and budget transparency. In 2014, the Azerbaijani government shut down the Centre and froze its accounts as part of a broader crackdown on civil society. Ibadoghlu went into exile in 2017 but returned to Azerbaijan in 2023 to visit his family.
Arrest and treatment
On July 23, 2023, police arrested Gubad Ibadoghlu and his wife, Irada Bayramova, while they were driving to meet youth activists in Sumgayit. Plain-clothed officers forced their car to stop and reportedly assaulted them. They were taken to the Interior Ministry’s Organized Crime Unit in Baku.
Bayramova, later released, showed signs of physical harm. Ibadoghlu’s complaint of mistreatment went unaddressed. Authorities claimed the arrest was part of an operation against supposed supporters of Fethullah Gülen. During the raid, police seized $40,000 in cash and briefly detained Ibadoghlu’s brother.
Health crisis amidst house arrest
Released to house arrest in April 2024 due to deteriorating health, Ibadoghlu faces urgent medical needs, including heart disease and kidney issues, which remain untreated. His heart condition has worsened, and his family reports that local hospitals cannot provide the specialist surgery needed.
The COP29 conference is already underway in Baku, and the Azerbaijani government’s pattern of suppressing dissent before international events continues. This time, it involves restricting Ibadoghlu from accessing essential medical care abroad, endangering his life.
Please take action as soon as possible until December 30, 2024! The UA will be duly updated should there be the need for further action.
