Gubad Ibadoghlu, 52, is a well-known academic, economist, and politician from Azerbaijan who has recently been arrested under dubious corruption charges — the latest in a string of arrests targeting journalists, politicians, and activists in the state. In July 2023, during his visit to Azerbaijan, the academic was placed in custody, where he remains at the time of writing this story, despite worrying reports of his deteriorating health and international demands for his immediate release. Ibadoghlu has been charged with the production, acquisition, or sale of counterfeit money by an organized group. If convicted, he is facing up to twelve years in prison. Ibadoglu's arrest follows a usual pattern of crackdown observed in Azerbaijan over the last two decades. Last year was no exception.

Ibadoghlu is the founder and chair of the opposition Azerbaijan Democracy and Prosperity Party (ADR). Based in London, he was a senior visiting fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE). His work focuses on “petro-capitalism,” analyzing how oil and gas revenues have fueled corruption and authoritarianism in post-Soviet states. In one of his recent lengthy articles, Ibadoglu argues that, based on empirical findings, “the oil-hinders-democracy hypothesis is valid for the oil-rich nations of the post-Soviet space.” The paper focused on several resource-rich countries, including Azerbaijan.

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