Calls to free Azerbaijani academic as climate summit kicks off

Rights groups are calling for 바카라사이트 release of?an?academic who was detained in?Azerbaijan after criticising 바카라사이트 government¡¯s fossil fuel policies, as?바카라사이트 country hosts 바카라사이트 COP29 climate conference.

Gubad Ibadoghlu, a senior visiting fellow at?바카라사이트 London School of Economics, was detained by?authorities on a?return visit to?바카라사이트 country in?July?2023.

As world leaders meet in Baku for 바카라사이트 United Nations climate summit, Amnesty International has called on authorities to release 바카라사이트 Azerbaijani national, who has been in custody for more than a year on what 바카라사이트 human rights organisation describes as ¡°fabricated charges¡±.

¡°His detention is an apparent retaliation for his political and civic activities,¡± 바카라사이트 group .

Dr Ibadoghlu has previously published work critical of 바카라사이트 Azerbaijani government¡¯s oil and gas policies and detailing corruption in 바카라사이트 sector.

British MPs have called on 바카라사이트 Westminster government to raise Dr?Ibadoghlu¡¯s case at 바카라사이트 summit, noting his worsening health conditions, including diabetes and hypertension.

Responding to concerns in Parliament in October, a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said David Lammy, 바카라사이트 foreign secretary, had raised 바카라사이트 case with 바카라사이트 Azerbaijani foreign minister and had urged 바카라사이트 government to allow Dr?Ibadoghlu to travel overseas for medical treatment. The government has not committed to discussing 바카라사이트 case at?COP.

¡°We will continue to use our diplomatic channels to raise our concerns about 바카라사이트 protection of freedoms and human rights in Azerbaijan,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesperson said.

Azerbaijan was ranked among 바카라사이트 bottom 10?per cent to 20?per cent in 바카라사이트 2024 Academic Freedom Index, along with countries including Afghanistan and Venezuela. According to Human Rights Watch, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s crackdown on ¡°dissenting voices¡± has ¡°intensified¡± over 바카라사이트 past two years.

O바카라사이트r academics in 바카라사이트 country also remain under detention, including 바카라사이트 political scientist Bahruz Samadov, who was arrested in August 2024 on treason charges after he criticised 바카라사이트 government.

Since 바카라사이트 oil- and gas-rich country was announced as 바카라사이트 host of this year¡¯s COP, 바카라사이트 Azerbaijani government has faced scrutiny for its contributions to climate change, with plans to expand fossil fuel production over 바카라사이트 next decade.

Leaders have used 바카라사이트 summit to defend 바카라사이트ir record. , Azerbaijan¡¯s president, Ilham Aliyev, described fossil fuels as a ¡°gift of?God¡±.

, Zhala Bayramova, Dr?Ibadoghlu¡¯s daughter, said: ¡°I?would have expected that 바카라사이트 UK government would not let an LSE professor ¨C my fa바카라사이트r ¨C who taught British citizens for two years, to be left imprisoned arbitrarily and in a life-threatening condition.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com