Bahruz Samadov is a doctoral student at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University in Prague. On 21 August 2024, when he was visiting Baku, Samadov was detained by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service. On 23 August 2024, it became known that he had been charged with 'high treason' and that he would remain imprisoned during (at least) a 4-month pre-trial detention. Based on the limited information available, the accusations appear to be directly related to Samadov's research and advocacy interests in peace in the South Caucasus and his meetings with Armenian counterparts at civil society and academic fora.

DESIRE is deeply concerned by Samadov’s detention, and by the accusation of treason. Together with PSA populism we have started a petition to free Samadov. Another open letter on this subject by international scholars can be found here. The Université Libre de Bruxelles, where Samadov has spent a research stay, has published a statement concerning his detention as well. PEN America, Amnesty International (repeatedly), the International Press Institute, Human Rights Watch, and Le Monde have all reported about the case and shown their concern.