LSE extends contract with Dr. Gubad Ibadoglu for two years amid arrest

Baku/27.07.23/Turan: The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has extended the contract for Dr. Gubad Ibadoglu, a senior visiting researcher, for two years. This decision followed his recent arrest, which attracted international attention and concern.

Dr. Ibadoglu, a 52-year-old leader of the Azerbaijani Democracy and Welfare Party, and a Doctor of Economics, was detained in Baku on July 23, with subsequent arrest on the following day. He faces allegations of involvement in producing counterfeit money and connections with the recognized terrorist organization FETO in Turkey. Dr. Ibadoglu vehemently denies these accusations and asserts that he is being targeted for political reasons by the Azerbaijani leadership.

Professor Jamil Hasanli, the Chairman of the General Committee for the Protection of Gubad Ibadoglu's Rights, and Arif Mammadov, the head of the Commission on External Relations, engaged in a conversation with the management of LSE, expressing their dismay at the news of Dr. Ibadoglu's arrest.

In response to the situation, the LSE management has released a statement acknowledging Dr. Ibadoglu's significant contributions to the academic and teaching realms at the institution. They urge the Azerbaijani authorities to release him immediately, emphasizing the need for adherence to constitutional principles and international obligations. Furthermore, LSE calls for assurance that Dr. Ibadoglu's health is being monitored and that he has unrestricted access to necessary medications.

Dr. Gubad Ibadoglu obtained his PhD in Economics from Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) and began his professional journey at the Center for Economic Research, a Baku-based think tank dedicated to promoting economic development and effective governance. He has a rich academic background, having conducted research and held positions at various esteemed institutions, including the Higher School of Economics in Warsaw, the Central European University in Budapest, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, and the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton.

In the 2018-2021 academic years, Dr. Ibadoglu taught several courses at Rutgers University, covering topics such as international political economy, globalization, democracy and modern capitalism, transition economics, and natural resources economics for sustainable development. Currently, he serves as a senior visiting fellow at the London School of Economics.

The detainment and arrest of Dr. Gubad Ibadoglu have prompted international and Azerbaijani organizations, as well as governments of major nations, to call for his release, highlighting the significance of his case beyond academic circles.