[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 31 (Friday, February 16, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RESOLUTION CALLING FOR RELEASE OF DR. GUBAD IBADOGHLU

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID ROUZER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 16, 2024

  Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have introduced a bipartisan 
resolution to highlight the plight of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, a respected 
academic and economist who taught and conducted research at several top 
universities in America, including Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill 
in my home state of North Carolina.
  While on a trip to Azerbaijan to visit his sick mother back in July 
of 2023, he and his wife were brutally assaulted by Azerbaijani 
authorities, and he was arrested on politically motivated, baseless 
charges. To this day, he continues to be detained and cruelly denied 
access to regular legal counsel and critical medications. This abuse is 
wrong and life-threatening.
  What Dr. Ibadoghlu is currently experiencing is a sobering reminder 
of what can and does happen in nations that have no regard for human 
rights with a history of jailing individuals on baseless charges. With 
this resolution, we join the State Department and many members of 
international civil society in calling for his unconditional release.

                          ____________________