After spending nearly three years in detention and under house arrest in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani economist and academic Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu was permitted to leave the country for medical reasons and travel to Germany on 29 September 2026.
His immediate priority in Germany is to undergo comprehensive medical examinations and receive the necessary treatment. Depending on the findings and medical recommendations, he may also require cardiac surgery. Following the completion of his medical examinations and treatment, as appropriate, Dr. Ibadoghlu plans to take up his academic position at Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden) with the support of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, through its Philipp Schwartz Initiative.
Dr. Ibadoghlu was originally scheduled to begin his academic fellowship in 2023. However, during a brief visit to Azerbaijan, he was arrested and subsequently placed under house arrest. His arrest and prolonged restrictions on his freedom have been widely linked to his critical stance towards the Azerbaijani authorities and his public work exposing corruption and the mismanagement of public resources in the country.
We are very pleased that Dr. Ibadoghlu has finally been able to reach Dresden and that the prospect of resuming his academic work is now within reach. We express our sincere gratitude to all those who have supported him, raised his case, and advocated for his release and freedom of movement over the past several years.
His arrival in Germany represents an important step towards securing the medical care he needs and rebuilding his professional and personal life after years of detention, house arrest and restrictions on his liberty. Nevertheless, his departure from Azerbaijan for medical reasons should not be interpreted as a resolution of his legal situation. Two grave criminal charges against Dr. Ibadoghlu remain in effect, and he continues to face the threat of prosecution in Azerbaijan.
About Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu
Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu is an internationally renowned political economist whose research focuses on the governance of natural-resource-rich countries and the management of revenues generated from natural resources. He is the author of more than twenty books on natural-resource policy and revenue management.
A central theme of his work is the examination of corruption, the misappropriation of public revenues derived from natural resources, and the adverse economic consequences of authoritarian governance. He has also devoted considerable attention to the challenges facing resource-rich post-Soviet countries in overcoming the so-called middle-income trap and achieving sustainable, inclusive economic development.
