Azerbaijan: arrested oppositionist expelled from university

Tural Abbasly, head of the youth branch of the oppositional "Musavat" Party, who is now held in custody, was excluded from the magistracy of the Baku State University (BSU), where he studied for the degree in "publicist journalism". The dean's office told that Abbasly had debts on some disciplines; however, according to his mother, he was unable to take his exams because he was in custody.

Tural Abbasly was detained on April 2 during the opposition rally; later, a criminal case was initiated against him under the article of "organization of actions aimed at breaking the public order, or active participation in them". On April 4, the Sabail District Court of Baku ruled to arrest Abbasly to arrest for the period of 2 months. On April 10, the Baku Court of Appeal upheld the ruling.

Bairam Guseinzade, head of the press service of the Ministry of Education, said that Abbasly had three academic debts. As to the time to re-take the exams, according to his story, "higher schools are independent in deciding on the issue. He also noted that, unlike the Bachelor's programme, restoration at the magistracy is impossible. Abbasly will have to re-enter it. Mr Guseinzade rejected any politically motivation in Abbasly's exclusion from the BSU.

In his turn, Anar Gasymov, Abbasly's advocate, believes that measures will be taken after Abbasly's exclusion to protect his rights, up to going to court. He believes that the young man is persecuted for political reasons, and the investigation against him is also biased and held in violation of the law. Moreover, the advocate pointed to the fact that on April 10 the appeal complaint against Abbasly's arrest was considered without his participation.