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Baku State University Teacher in Azerbaijan Still Not Allowed to Return to Work

February 23, 2025

Mr. Araz Aliyev was once a professor at Baku State University (BSU) in Azerbaijan. On December 23, 2023, he was abducted by people in civilian clothes, subjected to torture for 24 hours, and denied access to his lawyer and family. The next day, he was sentenced to 25 days in prison. He was arrested again in March 2024 and once more subjected to violence. In September 2024, he was dismissed from his position at BSU. The university administration unofficially stated that this decision was due to his political activity. The dismissal is still in effect.

Turan: Araz Aliyev arrested for political reasons – “Platform III Republic”

Ilham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Istiglaliyyat Street 19
1066 Baku,
Republic of Azerbaijan
E-mail: office@pa.gov.az
X: presidentaz

February 20, 2025

Dear President Aliyev,

The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.

We are writing regarding Mr. Araz Aliyev, an ex-professor at the Baku State University (BSU), who recently cofounded both the Baku Philosophy Academy and the Third Republic political initiative, both of which promote democracy and oppose corruption. His specialties include international politics and economics. He does academic research in the history of politics and philosophy.

On December 23, 2023, Mr. Aliyev was abducted by people in civilian clothes, subjected to physical and psychological torture for 24 hours, and denied access to his lawyer and family. His electronic devices were seized. The next day, he was sentenced to 25 days in prison. He was arrested again in March 2024 and once more subjected to violence. In September 2024, he was dismissed from his position at BSU. The university administration unofficially stated that this decision was due to his political activity. The dismissal is still in effect. He is not allowed to leave Azerbaijan. His family is subject to continual harassment from the authorities.

The Committee is concerned that Araz Aliyev’s dismissal from BSU was politically motivated and meant as punishment for his activities in promoting civil society in Azerbaijan. His arrest was only a few weeks before the presidential election and almost a year before COP29. The Committee is especially concerned with the allegations of torture that Aliyev and other detainees have made.

The Committee would like to see Araz Aliyev restored to his position at BSU, his travel privileges reinstated, and his family left alone. His research and work in civil society does not present a threat to the state, and imprisoning him does not promote Azerbaijan’s image on the world stage.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We will be closely following developments in this case.

Sincerely,

CC:
Marco Antonio Rubio
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
USA
Phone: (202) 647-4000
X: @SecRubio

Khazar Ibrahim
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States
Azerbaijani Embassy in the United States
2741 34th St NW,
Washington, DC 20008
USA
Phone: (202) 337-3500
Email: azerbaijan@azembassy.us
X: hazar_khazar

Jeyhun Bayramov
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4 Shikhali Gurbanov Str.,
Baku, Azerbaijan 1009.
Phone: (202) 337-3500
Email: azerbaijan@azembassy.us
X: @bayramov_jeyhun

Filed Under: Azerbaijan, CCS Cases Tagged With: Araz Aliyev

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Harold Scheraga (deceased), Cornell University

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