Azerbaijani authorities have arrested a researcher and political analyst, Bahruz Samadov, on spurious treason charges, in the government’s escalating crackdown against its critics, Human Rights Watch said today. A Ph.D. candidate at Prague’s Charles University, Samadov is the latest scholar targeted ahead of COP29, the global United Nations climate summit, to be hosted by Azerbaijan in November 2024.

 

In July, the authorities arrested another researcher, Igbal Abilov, also on spurious treason charges. The courts sent both men to four months of pretrial custody. If convicted, they face lengthy prison terms, or even a life sentence. Samadov’s and Abilov’s arrests are the latest in a staggering series of arrests targeting critical voices in the country.

 

“Azerbaijani authorities are on a relentless assault against dissenting voices, and the arrests of Samadov and Abilov are the latest illustrations of this crackdown,” said Giorgi Gogia, associate Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Azerbaijan’s hostility towards independent civic activism raises serious concerns about whether human rights defenders, academics, journalists, and other independent members of civil society will be able to participate meaningfully at COP29.” 

 

Samadov, 29, is a regular contributor to numerous international and regional publications and media, often critical pieces about political developments in Azerbaijan. He was also an outspokwriting en critic of the Second Karabakh War, fought in 2020, and wrote about retaliation against anti-war advocates.

 

The authorities arrested Samadov on August 21, while he was visiting Baku during the summer break to spend time with his grandmother. Several state security service officers searched his house and confiscated two mobile devices, two laptops, university diplomas, Samadov’s identity card, and passport.