British Parliament Representatives Request Aliyev to Free Environmental Policy Critic

A group of British Parliament representatives has written a letter to Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, requesting the release of Qubad Abadoglu, a professor of economics and political science at London University, who was arrested by Azerbaijani security forces after writing articles criticizing Baku's environmental policies. In the letter addressed to Aliyev by the international NGO 'Global Witness', the signatories, including some British MPs, expressed concern over the indefinite suspension of Abadoglu's pre-trial process. Abadoglu, who resides in Britain, was detained last summer while visiting family in Azerbaijan. As Baku prepares to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference this fall, Abadoglu is considered a serious critic of the Azerbaijani government's environmental policies. The letter states: 'Azerbaijani courts have now blocked the case, canceled the trial process, and are preparing to hold Dr. Abadoglu hostage indefinitely. We urge you to release him unconditionally, allow him to seek treatment abroad, and return him to his family.' Abadoglu, who suffers from diabetes and hypertension, has worked as a political economist across Europe and the United States for nearly a decade. He is the head of the 'Democracy and Prosperity Movement of Azerbaijan,' which has been denied official registration as a political party in Azerbaijan. In recent years, the European Court of Human Rights has expressed concern over the arrest and detention of government critics in Azerbaijan. Independent organizations estimate that around 200 political prisoners, including journalists, activists, and opposition politicians, are currently in Azerbaijani prisons. Azerbaijan has one of the most closed political systems in the world, with an economy dependent on fossil fuels. Oil and gas exports account for 90% of the country's exports, and revenue from such exports constitutes 60% of Baku's government budget. While hosting the UN Climate Change Conference has raised sensitivities, the letter states that Baku should drop all charges against Abadoglu in light of the conference. Last year, a day after Azerbaijan was announced as the host for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference, Baku began gas exports to Serbia, its seventh European customer. However, Azerbaijan has committed to sourcing about 60% of its electricity from non-fossil clean sources by 2030 and to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. Previously, the UAE's hosting of such a conference had drawn criticism.