Gubad Ibadoghlu
Senior Research Analyst at ERC
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412
Days spent in prison
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412
Days without healthcare
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412
Days without human rights
Until recently, he was a researcher at the London School of Economics and was supposed to start a new position at TU Dresden in the fall of 2023. Dr. Gubad’s research focuses on oil revenue management, elite’s assets abroad, and EU oil and gas contract with Azerbaijan. He focused on the political effects of natural resources in Azerbaijan and Russia. Furthermore, He has extensively researched Azerbaijani elite’s corruption and embezellment in Nagorno-Karabakh. Dr. Gubad has also investigated the Azerbaijani elite’s assets and offshore companies abroad, especially in London. In 2023, Ilham Aliyev made a public speech about Dr. Gubad, saying: "cockcrowing from abroad shut trap your tongue into your stomach!".
On July 23rd, Gubad Ibadoghlu and his wife, were stopped by 4-6 civilian cars. The cars surrounded Dr. Gubad's car, forcing it into a traffic accident by ramming it from the rear and front. Around 20 people in civilian clothes came out of the cars, forcing them out of the car. The attackers proceeded to assault them physically, which resulted in severe bruises on their bodies. They were taken to the Organized Crime Department, which is known for torturing political prisoners in the cellar of their headquarters. Dr. Gubad is detained as an witness to deprive him from lawyer. The police planted 40000 US dollars into Dr. Gubad's former office. The search was conducted without court order. The initial accusation brought against him was manufacturing with a view of selling and also selling counterfeit money by organized group. On July 24th, the Narimanov District Court decided without any justification on three months and 26 days of preventive detention, and he was transported to the detention center. On August 15, the investigator brought an expert opinion claiming that books were found in the office and that these books were related to Gulen. How these books were found remains an open question, as none of the case documents mentioned their existence. This is clearly an attempt by the Azerbaijani government to reduce the international support of Dr. Gubad by making up evidence and fabricating a link between him and religious organizations. This eventually resulted in new extremism charges and being a part of a terrorist group.
ECtHR gave judgment on interim measurements under Rule 39, stating that Dr. Gubad’s health conditions are critical and need to be transferred to the hospital and have surgery. Azerbaijani government did not implement the decision. Dr. Gubad's developed aortic dilation from 3.9 to 4,1 mm, which means an increased risk of rupture of the main blood vessel and sediment in his gallbladder, hypertrophy, and diastolic dysfunction was detected in the left ventricle of the heart, swelling near the thyroid gland (goiter), had fluctuating blood pressure and blood sugar levels, lost 10 kg in first week, and 15 kg in less than a month. He is tortured in the detention center, which worsens his nervous condition. The light is not turned off at night in his cell room, Ibadoghlu cannot sleep properly, which exacerbates his illnesses, his blood sugar level does not decrease, his blood pressure does not drop, his pulse remains high. Currently, Dr. Gubad cannot move and has no access to the doctor. ICRC is not allowed to see him. Dr. Gubad also has L4 nerve damage and degeneration in his spinal column. His pain is so intense that he has mobility issues, as he cannot stand anymore without intense pain and stays sitting in front of judges in court hearings. His blood sugar level is 20 mmol/l(the highest expected level is 6-8), and under high risk of diabetic coma.