The Azerbaijani academic Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu was due to start his guest stay at TU Dresden in January of this year on a scholarship from the Philipp Schwartz Initiative. However, since July 24, 2023, the renowned economist, who has worked intensively on corruption and the detrimental economic consequences of autocratic rule, has been imprisoned in Baku for alleged possession of counterfeit money. Despite the worldwide commitment of human rights organizations, the prospects for his release still remain poor. TUD has also been campaigning for Dr. Ibadoghlu's rights since July and had, among other things, sent a letter to the President of Azerbaijan asking for the circumstances of the case to be investigated and for his human rights to be respected. 

In the discussion "Academic Freedom, Human Rights, Academic Freedom and Political Realities" with Marcel Thum, Dr. Ibadoghlu's mentor at TUD and Chair of Economics at TUD, and human rights lawyer Zhala Bayramova from Baku, this current case will be taken as an opportunity to talk about the threats to researchers worldwide and the threats to academic freedom. The event will focus on the following questions: Do autocrats feel threatened by sound scientific research? What makes resource-rich countries particularly vulnerable to the suppression of politically relevant research? How can academics and politicians in democratic societies support their colleagues in autocracies? What will be more helpful: public pressure or quiet diplomacy? 
The evening will be moderated by Katharina Schmitt, International Affairs Advisor at TU Dresden. 

Date and time: Monday, April 15, 2024, 6:00 pm 
Location: Ballroom of the Faculty of Business and Economics, Hülße Building, North Wing, 3rd floor 
Language: The discussion will be held in English 

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative 
With the full scholarship of the Philipp Schwartz Initiative (PSI), universities and research institutions in Germany are given the opportunity each year to host researchers who are at risk or have already fled their home countries for 24 months. The Philipp Schwartz Initiative was launched by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation together with the Federal Foreign Office. This initiative is funded by the Federal Foreign Office, the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the Gerda Henkel Foundation, the Klaus Tschira Foundation, the Robert Bosch Foundation, the Stifterverband and the Stiftung Mercator. 

More information on the funding program: http://www.philipp-schwartz-initiative.de 

Contact:
Katharina Schmitt 
Directorate University Culture – TUD International Campus