Human rights activists have asked the Azerbaijani authorities to release a political scientist with anti-war views
The international network Scholars at Risk, with the support of Amnesty International and the Norwegian Foundation, has appealed to the Azerbaijani government to release researcher Bahruz Samedov. The appeal is addressed personally to President Ilham Aliyev.
The organizations express concern over Samedov's arrest, believing it to be "obvious retaliation" for his research on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. The petition also notes the pressure exerted on Samedov in custody, including placement in solitary confinement and transfer to a maximum-security prison section. The signatories note that the persecution of Samedov, who held anti-war views, runs counter to Azerbaijan's commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict with Armenia.
Bahruz Samedov was detained in August 2024 in Baku. Security forces came to his home under the pretext of searching for drugs, which were never found. They ultimately took the political scientist himself, his documents, and his computer. He had published articles critical of the Azerbaijani authorities in Western media and analytical publications.
Samadov was accused of treason: allegedly he corresponded with Armenians and wrote articles commissioned by them. He denied the charges.
