In Baku, school principal admits dismissing a teacher for his calls for peace

Rovshan Azizov, an English language teacher, has appealed to the court to be reinstated in his job at a school in Baku. According to the teacher, he was dismissed for his civil position. On March 12, the school principal admitted at trial that the teacher was dismissed because of his calls for peace between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia he had voiced in front of pupils, Rovshan Azizov said.

35-year-old Rovshan Azizov taught English in one of the schools of the Nizami District in Baku since 2004, and he was dismissed in December 2017. The persecution of the teacher began after he had prepared, together with his pupils, a video film with a call for friendship between Azerbaijani and Armenian children, Rovshan Azizov himself told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The teacher has appealed against the order on his dismissal. "On March 5 and 12, the Nizami District Court held two court hearings. A decision is to be announced on March 14. On March 12, the school principal admitted at trial I was dismissed for speaking during the lessons 'about peace between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in front of pupils' and for shooting without the principal's permission the videos with my pupils on the topic of peace with Armenians at the school," Rovshan Azizov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Rovshan Azizov has expressed his hope that the Court will reinstate him in his job.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.