119-hres120

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 120 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 120

 Condemning the treatment of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu by the Government of 
 Azerbaijan and urging his immediate release, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 February 6, 2025

Mr. Rouzer (for himself, Mr. Pallone, Mrs. Kim, Mr. Costa, Mr. Valadao, 
 Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Lawler, Mr. Gottheimer, Ms. 
Malliotakis, Ms. Meng, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Bilirakis, Mrs. 
 Foushee, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Ms. Norton, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Titus, 
 Mr. Veasey, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Schneider, and Mr. McGovern) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
 on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 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 
 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 was imprisoned in extremely poor conditions at the Baku 
 Detention Center until April 2024 before being released to house arrest, 
 and is subject to a travel ban preventing him from leaving Baku;
Whereas Dr. Ibadoghlu's health continues to deteriorate significantly since his 
 initial arrest, and he has not received adequate medical treatment for 
 his conditions;
Whereas Dr. Ibadoghlu has been repeatedly denied access to his legal counsel and 
 a fair trial while in custody;
Whereas Azerbaijani authorities have restricted Dr. Ibadoghlu's movement and 
 communications, isolating him from family and academic networks;
Whereas Dr. Ibadoghlu's family continues to face harassment and threats from 
 Azerbaijani authorities;
Whereas the Department of State and the United States Embassy in Baku, alongside 
 United States academic institutions and organizations in the 
 international community, have expressed deep concerns regarding Dr. 
 Ibadoghlu's health and have demanded his immediate release; and
Whereas the wrongful detention of Dr. Ibadoghlu is a serious affront to human 
 rights and academic freedom: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) condemns the treatment of Dr. Ibadoghlu by the 
 Government of Azerbaijan, their practice of wrongful detention, 
 and their suppression of academic freedom;

    (2) calls for Dr. Ibadoghlu's immediate and unconditional 
 release; and

    (3) urges the Secretary of State to continue prioritizing 
 Dr. Ibadoghlu's well-being and release in all engagements with 
 the Government of Azerbaijan.
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