BAKU -- Two youth activists from Azerbaijani opposition parties have been expelled from Baku State University in the past week, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.
Tural Abbasli, head of the Musavat party youth wing, was expelled on April 6, it emerged on April 11. He was studying for a master's degree in journalism and was due to graduate this year.
Yalchin Alizadeh, dean of the journalism faculty, told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service that Abbasli was expelled for missing 100 hours of classes and not paying the annual tuition fee of 900 manats ($1,135) for the period from September 2010 till March 31, 2011.
Abbasli's mother, Bashkhanim Abbasli, also a member of the Musavat party, told RFE/RL he was expelled for his political views. She said two of his exams coincided with the opposition protests on March 12 and April 2 but he could not sit those exams as he was detained on the eve of the protests.
The other expelled student is Javid Mehraliyev, a member of the opposition Classical Azerbaijan Popular Front Party. He participated in recent opposition protests and was expelled from Baku State University on April 5. He told RFE/RL last week that he was designated absent even when he attended classes.
Baku State University officials deny the two men were expelled for their political views.
Read more in Azerbaijani here
Tural Abbasli, head of the Musavat party youth wing, was expelled on April 6, it emerged on April 11. He was studying for a master's degree in journalism and was due to graduate this year.
Yalchin Alizadeh, dean of the journalism faculty, told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service that Abbasli was expelled for missing 100 hours of classes and not paying the annual tuition fee of 900 manats ($1,135) for the period from September 2010 till March 31, 2011.
Abbasli's mother, Bashkhanim Abbasli, also a member of the Musavat party, told RFE/RL he was expelled for his political views. She said two of his exams coincided with the opposition protests on March 12 and April 2 but he could not sit those exams as he was detained on the eve of the protests.
The other expelled student is Javid Mehraliyev, a member of the opposition Classical Azerbaijan Popular Front Party. He participated in recent opposition protests and was expelled from Baku State University on April 5. He told RFE/RL last week that he was designated absent even when he attended classes.
Baku State University officials deny the two men were expelled for their political views.
Read more in Azerbaijani here
