Amnesty International has launched a campaign in defense of Gubad Ibadoglu

Baku/22.08.23/Turan: The international human rights organization Amnesty International has launched a campaign in defense of opposition politician and economist Gubad Ibadoglu, who was arrested in Azerbaijan.

"The arrest and criminal prosecution of Gubad Ibadoglu is an obvious revenge for criticizing the government, political and public activities, including for helping to create a fund that sought to allocate funds for Azerbaijani students from foreign assets seized from Azerbaijani corrupt officials.

Gubad Ibadoglu has serious health problems, and in custody his life is in danger due health and absence of adequate medical care," a statement on the organization's website reads.

Amnesty International also publishes the text of an appeal to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev demanding Ibadoglu's release and calls on all interested people to sign it and send it to the leadership of Azerbaijan.

The appeal states that Ibadoglu was arrested on trumped-up charges of selling counterfeit money. "Gubad Ibadoglu is seriously ill, including type 2 diabetes and hypertension. He is kept in conditions that can be equated to inhuman and degrading, he is forced to use poor-quality drinking water and food, does not receive the necessary medicines at the right time. In custody, his health is constantly deteriorating," the appeal says,  and calls on to release Ibadoglu immediately; and before that, to provide him with the necessary medicines and food, to protect him from torture and ill-treatment.

The appeal also demands to punish the guilty persons who subjected Ibadoglu and his wife Irada Bayramova to violence during their detention.

In conclusion, it calls on the leadership of Azerbaijan to "put an end to the misuse of the criminal justice system to prosecute peaceful critics of the government and dissidents." ---16B---