S8 Ep35: Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu imprisoned in Azerbaijan

On today’s podcast, we are joined by Ibad Bayramov, and we discuss the imprisonment of his father, Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, in Azerbaijan.

Dr Ibadoghlu is an economics professor who was a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and a leading figure in the opposition in Azerbaijan. In July 2023, he was arrested and held by Azerbaijan authorities while visiting family. He is facing up to 12 years in prison for the production, acquisition, or sale of counterfeit money by an organised group and allegedly possessing extremist material—charges he denies.

Find out more about Dr Ibadoghlu at the Gubad Files Website: https://thegubadfiles.com/

You can connect with and follow Ibad here:  https://twitter.com/BayramovIbad

Ibad’s sister Zhala is also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BayramovaZhala


You can contact Politicians via the links below:

Contact your Senator: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
Contact your MP: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/


You can read more on some of the topics Ibad mentions about the political situation in Azerbaijan

Detention of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu
https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/61412/detention-of-dr-gubad-ibadoghlu-in-azerbaijan

https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/the-struggle-for-freedom-an-azerbaijani-economist-who-stands-up-to-aliyevs-kleptocracy

Concerns about Dr Ibadoghlu’s health
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/14/health-of-lse-academic-detained-in-azerbaijan-at-risk-say-family

US could do more to help Dr Ibadoghlu
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/11/united-states-must-do-more-help-gubad-ibadoghlu/

Doubt about the validity of Azerbaijan’s elections
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68237326

Caviar diplomacy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caviar_diplomacy

Pandora Papers
https://www.rferl.org/a/pandora-papers-tax-havens/31490744.html
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/03/queen-crown-estate-bought-property-family-azerbaijan-ruler

Azerbaijani Laundromat
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/04/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-azerbaijani-laundromat

Azerbaijan adopt harsh tactics against the opposition
https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijani-government-adopts-still-harsher-tactics-against-opposition

Human Rights report on Azerbaijan - Torture and Ill-Treatment in Detention
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/azerbaijan

BP and Azerbijan
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/08/bp-projects-have-helped-fund-azerbaijan-military-aggession-say-campaigners

UK Gov Risk Guidance on doing business in Azerbaijan
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-azerbaijan/overseas-business-risk-azerbaijan


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