Baku hosts action in support of expelled student

Today, in Baku, near the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, a picket was held by a group of activists of the youth movement "Dalga" (Wave). Their demand was to restore expelled 4th year student Pyarviz Azimov at the Lenkoran State University (LSU).

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that the picketers demanded to put an end to arbitrariness and restore Azimov as a student. They cried out appeals to the Ministry to take the youth's interests into account and not just deal with athletes' matters. In doing so, they performed physical exercises.

The picketers handed over the resolution adopted at the picket to the Ministry's officials. It demands Azimov's restoration at the University and punishment of those guilty of breaching his rights. Besides, the resolution underlines that a similar appeal was sent to President Ilham Aliev. Alongside, they prepare a suit.

Samaya Mamedova, press secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that "the appeal of the young men will be studied." She refrained from detailed comments, referring to "absence of information". The Ministry of Education and LSU also refused to give any comments.

The action passed without excesses and lasted for about 15 minutes. Police units arrived to the venue already after the picket was over and its participants went away.

In the near future, a similar protest action will be held also in front of the Ministry of Education, as Vafa Dzhafarova, leader of the "Dalga", has reported.

Let us note here that the expelled Azimov was also a member of the "Dalga" society.

Zair Amanov, editor of the newspaper "Dzhanub Khyabyarlyari", has noted that for critical publications about corruption in higher schools he was repeatedly exposed to pressure from the University's managers, and Azimov's dismissal was just a continuation of lawlessness.

Emin Guseinov, Director of the IRFS, has regarded Azimov's expulsion as another fact of suppression of dissidents in the country. "It's a rough violation of the freedom of speech and thought, guaranteed by the Constitution of Azerbaijan and European Convention of Human Rights," he said.