III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 616 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 22, 2024 Mr. Tillis (for himself, Mr. Durbin , Mr. Cassidy , Mr. Kaine , and Mr. Fetterman ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Condemning the treatment of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu by the Government of Azerbaijan and urging his immediate release, and for other purposes.

Whereas Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, a respected academic and economist, and his wife, Irada Bayramova, were arrested by Azerbaijani authorities on July 23, 2023, and severely beaten while in police custody; Whereas Dr. Ibadoghlu was dubiously accused by Azerbaijani authorities of multiple criminal acts without evidence; Whereas Dr. Ibadoghlu remains imprisoned at the Baku Detention Center in extremely poor conditions while awaiting trial; Whereas Dr. Ibadoghlu’s health has deteriorated significantly since his initial arrest, and he has not received adequate medical treatment for his medical condition; Whereas Dr. Ibadoghlu has been repeatedly denied access to his legal counsel and a fair trial while in custody; Whereas the Department of State and the United States Embassy in Baku, along with United States academic institutions and respected international organizations, have expressed deep concerns regarding Dr. Ibadoghlu’s health and have demanded his immediate release; Whereas Azerbaijan’s ties with the community of democracies has been undermined by a troubling record of wrongfully detaining those involved in human rights, journalism, and peaceful freedom of expression, including Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Avaz Zeynalli, and Elchin Sadigov; Whereas the wrongful detention of Dr. Ibadoghlu is a serious affront to human rights and academic freedom: Now, therefore, be it