TUD demands respect for human rights: Dresden Fellow Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu imprisoned in Azerbaijan

The future Dresden Fellow Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu has been imprisoned in Azerbaijan since July 24, 2023 for alleged possession of counterfeit money. His family, colleagues and representatives of international human rights organizations are making a concerted effort to get him released. TU Dresden is also campaigning for his release. In a letter, Rector Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger called on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to refer to the matter and to respect human rights.

Since his arrest, Dr. Ibadoghlu is said to have had no access to vital medication or clean drinking water. The contact with his lawyer is also said to be highly restricted. His appeals and attempts to be released to house arrest, pending the actual trial, have so far all been declined.

Dr. Ibadoghlu is a world-renowned economist who is scheduled to begin his research at TU Dresden in October 2023, following guests stays at North Carolina Chapel Hill, Rutgers and Duke University, and the London School of Economics, among others. A collaboration with Prof. Marcel Thum is planned on the connections between the occurrence of natural mineral resources, and political stability and corruption.

TUD is continuously committed to the protection of human rights and academic freedom and has been supporting persecuted and refugee researchers for years.

The New University in Exile Consortium, of which TU Dresden has been a member since 2020, has launched a petition to release Dr. Ibadoghlu: https://www.change.org/p/demand-the-release-of-professor-gubad-ibadoghlu

For more information, see The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/06/azerbaijan-arrest-gubad-ibadoghlu/

Letter: In support of Dr. Gubad lbadoghlu

Your Excellency,

I write in support of Dr. Gubad lbadoghlu, a world-renowned Scholar and Economist who has been arrested and is being detained in a government facility in Baku since Sunday, July 24. We respectfully inquire into the overall circumstances of the arrest and question the rationale of the proposed detention of Dr. lbadoghlu until his trial more than three months  from now. We also ask you to review the legality of the proceedings: we believe that every defendant has rights to legal counsel and a fair trial. We trust that after review you will facilitate consultation as soon as possible. Most importantly, we believe it is essential that Dr. lbadoghlu receives the medication he urgently needs and which has been kept from him since his arrest.

TU Dresden sees itself as fortunate to have won Dr. lbadoghlu as a visiting scholar for our institu­tion. We know him to be a brilliant thinker, researcher, and teacher who has made, and hopefully will continue to make, valuable contributions to science and teaching missions of world-class universities. We also know him as an honest, supportive person: we do not recognize our colleague in the charges levelled against him. We call on the authorities to thoroughly re-examine their le­gitimacy.

TU Dresden is a global university, our activities both at harne and abroad are grounded in the standards of academic freedom and the protection of human rights. Please demonstrate that the Republic of Azerbaijan respects these values as well by affording Dr. lbadoghlu the right to legal counsel , access to needed medical care, and a thorough and transparent airing of the charges aigainst him.

Sincerly,

Rector Prof. Dr. Ursula Staudinger

Contact

Katharina Schmitt
Directorate University Culture