A doctoral student at Charles University in the Czech Republic and a prominent peace activist, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of “treason.” His case, which he vehemently denies as fabricated, has drawn international attention and highlights a broader crackdown on civil society and independent voices in Azerbaijan.
Samadov recently gave an interview from the Treatment Facility of the Baku Pre-Trial Detention Center to journalist Ulviyya Ali, herself arrested in connection with the “Meydan TV case.” In the interview, published by “Abzas Media,” Samadov shared harrowing details of his detention and the reasons he believes he was targeted.
A Scholar Accused of Treason
Bahruz Samadov is known for his research on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict and his critical writings on the Azerbaijani government. He was detained by employees of the State Security Service (DTX) on August 21, 2024. His home was searched, and personal belongings, including his computer, were confiscated. A criminal case was opened against him under Article 274 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to treason.
Samadov maintains his innocence, asserting that the charges are baseless. He believes his arrest stems from his academic activities and critical speeches at international conferences. “There are always people at such conferences who report to the state,” Samadov stated. He recalled a critical speech in Manchester about recent political developments, which he believes made him a “target for the authorities.” He also suggested his arrest was a response to Europe’s reaction to the September 2023 events in the region.
“I opposed the war, but that didn’t mean opposing the return to the lands,” Samadov clarified, explaining his stance was based on foresight regarding the consequences of “Caesarism.” He finds his 15-year sentence, delivered amidst ongoing peace talks with Armenia, contradictory. “From day one, I said that this accusation contradicts the state’s own interests. Giving such an accusation to an academic and subjecting him to torture harms the country’s reputation and is a step against the alleged ‘peace agenda.'”
When pressed for the reason behind the accusation, Samadov, who describes himself as a “radical critic” rather than a politician with a wide readership, recounted what he was told by the DTX: “At the State Security Service, they told me that the reason was that Armenians referenced my articles.” He challenges those who accuse him of “pro-Armenianism” to read his writings, asserting that he “openly wrote about the traumas of the Azerbaijani people” in those very articles.
Ordeal and Resilience in Detention
Samadov’s time in detention has been deeply traumatic. He revealed he undertook a five-day hunger strike in protest of the injustice, a process he described as physically and morally exhausting. He ended the strike at the plea of his grandmother and friends.
He also recounted a brutal incident where he was physically assaulted for requesting a Bible. “The worst thing that affected me was being brutally beaten for asking for a Bible,” he said, adding that he prayed and remembered a loved one during the ordeal. The psychological toll was so severe that he attempted suicide upon returning from court in an affective state, hoping his death would serve as a final statement on the country’s situation. He was saved at the last moment by Taryel Abdullayev.
Despite the hardships, Samadov has found strength in a wave of international and local support. He expressed gratitude for the solidarity from academic communities, petitions, and friends, specifically naming Jamil Hasanli, Arif Yunus, Altay Goyushov, Gulnara Mehdiyeva, the Feminist Peace Collective, Amrah Tahmazov, Giyas Ibrahim, Ahmad Ismayilov, Aykhan Zayedzade, and Ulvi Alakbarzade. He was particularly touched by Belarusian artist Darya Tsemra, who dedicated several artworks to him.
Samadov also addressed smear campaigns against him, including “Baku TV” calling him a “drug addict,” dismissing the accusers as “people who have lost their morality.” He extends forgiveness to those who hate him, his acquaintances who testified against him, and friends who remained silent.
Broader Repression and Future Hopes
Samadov’s case is seen by many as part of a wider crackdown on civil society in Azerbaijan. He believes that after the Karabakh war victory, the government’s legitimacy problem was resolved, leading to a suppression of political discourse. “Only the media and a few individuals remained. By silencing them, the government achieved complete discursive dominance. Nothing remained but banal nationalism and consumerism,” he explained, adding that he had foreseen these developments in 2020, which informed his opposition to the war.
He noted that journalists who supported his grandmother from the outset, including Aytaj Tapdig, Aysel Umudova, and his interviewer Ulviyya Ali, have also been arrested. Ulviyya Ali, an independent journalist, was detained on May 6, 2025, and charged with smuggling, a charge she denies, stating her arrest is due to her journalistic activities. Local human rights defenders report over 370 political prisoners in Azerbaijan, a claim the government denies, stating arrests are for specific actions.
Reflecting on his imprisonment, Samadov’s desires have simplified: “Now I only want nothing to happen to my grandmother, and for my friends to be released.” He hopes to survive his ordeal and return to his academic activities, but vows never to forget “the trauma my arrest caused, how the state treated me like a terrorist, and that I was punished for my pacifist stance.”
In his final statement in court, Samadov spoke of historical figures like Socrates and Jesus, but noted only his lawyer, Ms. Zibeyda, listened. “This situation is a metaphor for the existence of people like us in the country: we speak, one person listens, and then we get arrested,” he concluded, a stark reflection on the state of dissent in Azerbaijan.
Bahruz Samadov was sentenced to 15 years in prison on June 23, 2025, in a closed session at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Elnur Nuriyev. The state prosecutor had sought a 16-year sentence.