Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has taken recent steps to secure the release of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu from detention in Azerbaijan.

Since Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu's arrest in July 2023, the UK has consistently advocated for appropriate medical access and treatment, and the right to a fair legal process. Following his arrest, the UK released a joint statement with the US, France and Germany calling for the Azerbaijani government to protect the freedoms and human rights of its citizens, including Dr Ibadoghlu: https://twitter.com/ukinazerbaijan/status/1684428817333383168?s=20 .

The UK also raised these concerns during Azerbaijan's Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in November 2023. The UK has consistently called on the Azerbaijani Government to protect the freedoms and human rights of all of its citizens, and we will continue to work to ensure Dr Ibadoghlu's rights are upheld.