Mr. Bahruz Samadov is a PhD student at the Charles University in Prague.
The Baku Grave Crimes Court has sentenced Azerbaijani researcher, peace activist, and OC Media contributor Bahruz Samadov to 15 years in prison on charges of treason…..Read more on OC Media
Scholars at Risk sent the below letter to Azerbaijani authorities, urging them to secure the immediate release of Mr. Bahruz Samadov…Read more on Scholars at Risk
July 16, 2025
Ilham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Istiglaliyyat Street 19
1066 Baku,
Republic of Azerbaijan
E-mail: office@pa.gov.az
X: presidentaz
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 the case of Mr. Bahruz Samadov. He is an Azerbaijani PhD student at the Charles University in Prague who has written articles about the history of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. On August 21, 2024, Mr. Samadov was detained during his visit to Baku. On June 23, 2025, he was sentenced by the Baku Grave Crimes Court to 15 years in prison for allegedly committing treason by collaborating with the Armenian security services. The Committee is concerned about the lack of evidence in Mr. Samadov’s case and the closed-door trial. His research and the articles he has written in academic journals do not constitute treason.
The Committee is especially concerned about the treatment of Mr. Samadov in detention which apparently resulted in his hunger strike and suicide attempt.
The Committee asks that Mr. Samadov be released and reunited with his last surviving family member, his grandmother, Zibeyda Osmanova.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We will be closely following developments in this case.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
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