Consortium Scholar Ibadoghlu’s Brother Indicted in Azerbaijan

Photo credit: Human Rights Watch

Azerbaijani economist, opposition politician, and New University in Exile Consortium scholar Gubad Ibadoghlu has been under arrest for more than two-years on spurious counterfeit currency charges in a case regarding the activities of local non-governmental organizations. After nearly a year in pre-trial detention, Dr. Ibadoghlu was transferred to house arrest in April 2024. He is still under house arrest as his case has been indefinitely frozen with no determined hearing date.

In recent months, the case against Dr. Ibadoghlu was extended to include his brother, Galib Bayramov. A researcher, journalist, and activist, Galib Bayramov has worked against political imprisonment, authoritarianism and corruption in Azerbaijan, as well as served as head of the Economic Research Center, the think-tank for which his brother Gubad Ibadoghlu also worked. Charges were brought against Bayramov in April 2025, and he has been under police supervision since.

Bayramov’s first hearing was held on October 8, 2025, where details regarding his indictment were announced. Similar to his brother, Bayramov is also being charged with money laundering and counterfeit currency charges and could be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison. A further hearing was held on October 22, during which, according to his legal team, the prosecutor did not present any credible evidence, demonstrating the political character of the case against him. Bayramov has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. His next hearing is set for November 26, 2025.

The introduction of charges against Bayramov are seen as an attempt to put further pressure on Ibadoghlu and his case. Earlier in 2025, Ibadoghlu’s family assets were seized by the government as Bayramov was also being brought into the case.

Endangered Scholars Worldwide (ESW) condemns the unjust persecution of Gubad Ibadoghlu and Galib Bayramov in Azerbaijan. The cases brought up against them constitute political retribution for engaging in critical academic activity. We call on the Azerbaijani government to immediately reverse its actions violating academic freedom in Azerbaijan and facilitate the release of those wrongfully imprisoned for expressing their views and invite the global community dedicated to upholding academic freedom to join our call.