In Moscow, Azeri student beaten for forum statements on Nagorno-Karabakh

On January 23, Ali Aslanly (Aslanov), a 1st year student of the Russian State Medical University (RSMU), was hospitalized to the in neurosurgery ward of Pirogov Hospital No. 33 in Moscow after he was beaten by his classmates. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has found out that the conflict burst out because of the debate in the Internet of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

One of the Internet forums offered to vote pro or contra independence of Nagorno-Karabakh. Aslanov, a citizen of the Russian Federation of Azerbaijani origin, voted against and left his comments. As it was found out later, a girl from Armenia, also a student of the RSMU, who personally knew Aslanov, took part in the same discussion. When she met him, she threatened to send his comments to Armenian students.

Several days later, after passing exams, Aslanov was approached by his two Armenian classmates who called him out "for a talk", where four more guys were waiting for the Azerbaijani student. Aslanov refused to renounce his statements left at the forum. Then, according to his story, he was beaten.

Ali Aslanov told that he lost consciousness, while the attackers left, leaving him on the snow at minus 20 degrees Centigrade.

Shakhin Aslanov, Ali's father, addressed his applications in connection with the incident to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, General Public Prosecutor Yuri Chaika, Public Prosecutor of Moscow Yu. Syomin, Public Prosecutor of the Southwest Administrative District of Moscow I. Trofimov and Cheryomushki Inter-District Public Prosecutor of Moscow of V Yashenkova.

The victim was already visited in the hospital by representatives of the embassy of Azerbaijan in the Russian Federation, which has expressed an intention to assist in the objective investigation and punishment of the culprits, of the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia (AYOR), and of public organizations of Azerbaijanis in Russia.

The Cheryomushki Inter-District Prosecutor's Office refused to give telephone comments to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, referring to the absence of an official request.

At Hospital No. 33, Ali Aslanov's condition was characterized as "medium gravity." Ali himself told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he still feels nausea and dizziness.

Meanwhile, Samvel Pakhchanyan, one of the witnesses of the incident, accused the Azerbaijani mass media of jaundice. According to his story, Aslanov had coarsely offended all the Armenian nationals in his comments in the forum.

He also proposed his version of the event. "Aslanov stood near the stairs; we were just talking to him and offered him to apologize. We asked him that he maybe wanted to offend someone, but offended all of us. He stood up and said no, it was his personal opinion, and he was ready to respond for it. The conversation grew heated; one of my friends pushed him, and Aslanov slipped down and rolled along the stairs. That's all; nothing more happened," asserts Pakhchanyan.

Besides, according to his version, together with his friends he helped Aslanov to rise to his feet and accompanied him to the University.

In the meantime, Rector of the RSMU Nikolai Volodin has assured that in their personal conversations the parties had already expressed readiness to reconcile.

At the same time, he has noted the ambiguity of the situation. "As to the direct manhandling, it's not as simple as it seems: there's a victim, and there're culprits; but the issue is delicate. They brought a printout of Aslanov's 'comments'. You know, if it's really his viewpoint, he's not worth to be a student of our university. And not only a student… In no case I justify those who had beaten him. Moreover, two of them, most likely, will be dismissed. I repeat, we still have to clear out the reasons," said Rector of the RSMU.