British MPs Urge Azerbaijan to Release Detained Academic Gubad Ibadoghlu
British MPs have called on Azerbaijan to release detained economist and academic Gubad Ibadoghlu, who has been charged with illegal possession of counterfeit money, reports theguardian.com. Human rights groups and political figures claim that the charges are politically motivated, as Ibadoghlu is a well-known critic of the Azerbaijani government.
The academic was arrested in late July 2024 in Baku. His detention has sparked international concern, with British lawmakers joining the calls for his immediate release, citing worries about his health and well-being while in custody.
MPs, including Labour's Hilary Benn, urged the UK government to apply diplomatic pressure on Azerbaijan to ensure a fair and transparent process. Ibadoghlu's family and supporters have also appealed for his release, asserting that his arrest is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani government has yet to respond to the growing international pressure, maintaining that Ibadoghlu's arrest is not politically motivated but related to specific legal violations.
Politics
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Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who arrived in Baku today, held a press conference at the COP29 climate conference. When asked about the arrested climate activists and opposition figures in Azerbaijan, she stated that Germany advocates for the release of government critics and that she would raise this issue during her meeting with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister. She specifically mentioned the name of Professor Gubad Ibadoglu, a doctor from Dresden University.
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