The civil society constituency of the EITI Council is deeply concerned by the news of Gubad Ibadoghlu’s arrest. For many years, he was dedicated to improving the transparency and accountability of the extractive sector in Azerbaijan, Central Asian countries and around the world. His long-standing track record on the EITI Board led to the development of international standards for transparency and effective management in the mining industry.
We urgently call for the release of Gubad Ibadoghlu, considering two primary factors. First, Gubad’s brutal and violent detention, without regard to legal procedures, and his subsequent arrest on apparently fabricated charges were in response to Gubad’s political activities, in which he has regularly criticized the current regime. Secondly, his health makes him particularly vulnerable in the harsh conditions of detention and makes it extremely difficult for him to defend his innocence. According to his wife’s statement, Gubad has been denied access to essential medication for some time despite suffering from diabetes mellitus, hypertension and other life-threatening internal ailments. These terrible circumstances pose a serious risk to his life.
We call on companies and governments that support the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), highlighting the EITI’s fundamental commitment to human rights, including the right to protect honor and dignity. We ask you to use your contacts and connections to convey to the Azerbaijani authorities the demand to release Gubad Ibadoghlu immediately.
We urge members of the EITI community to petition the Court of Justice of the European Union to urgently consider the imprisonment of Gubad and to rule on these matters. It is incumbent upon us to support public activists facing politically motivated persecution. We strongly believe that Gubad Ibadoghlu, a valued member of the EITI international team, has been unfairly targeted for his political stance. We ask that not only his honor and dignity be safeguarded, but also that his life, which remains dangerously endangered during his unjust detention, be protected.
We call on all concerned parties to join forces to secure Gubad Ibadoghlu’s immediate release, provide him with proper medical care and advocate for justice and human rights in this distressing situation. Your support is critical to ensure a fair and equitable outcome for a man who has tirelessly contributed to the cause of transparency and effective governance in the mining sector.
Civil Society Members of the EITI Board 2023-2026
Yessica Prieto Ramos
Vanessa Cueto
Mariya Lobacheva
Diana Kaissy
Olena Pavlenko
Tamika Halwiindi
Matthieu Salomon
Aliou Ba Coulibaly
Kossi (Pius) Kougblenou
Clancy Moore
Civil Society Members of the EITI Board 2019-2023
Cesar Gamboa
Oleksiy Orlovsky
Daniel Kaufmann
Simon Taylor
Oscar Pineda
Brice Mackosso
Mtwalo Msoni