WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations, along with Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of Gubad Ibadoghlu’s unjust imprisonment by the government of Azerbaijan.
“Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Azerbaijani government’s unjust detainment of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu—a world respected economist and academic with close ties to American universities–on false charges of manufacturing counterfeit foreign currency and possessing extremist materials. After a year, the Azerbaijanis have yet to provide Dr. Ibadoghlu with legal counsel, a fair trial, or basic care. We are deeply concerned for Dr. Ibadoghlu’s welfare as he faces mistreatment and inhumane conditions, including the denial of appropriate medical care despite his deteriorating health.
“Like many human rights defenders in Azerbaijan, Dr. Ibadoghlu has demonstrated a tireless commitment to promoting democracy, good governance, and human rights both in his home country of Azerbaijan, and in the United States where he has lived and worked. We strongly condemn the Azerbaijani government’s treatment of Dr. Ibadoghlu and call for his immediate and unequivocal release so that he may be reunited with this wife Irada, and his children Zhala, Ibad, and Emin.”
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