29 December 2005, 18:26
Students go on hunger-strike
Students sent down from Azerbaijani higher education institutions for political motives have again announced a hunger-strike demanding that they should be allowed to continue studies.
Mr Seimur Khaziyev, head of the Youth Division of the People's Front Party, has told Caucasian Knot's correspondent that the action will continue until the students are allowed to proceed with their studies. According to him, youth activists also intend to conduct public meetings and pickets. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Education Minister Misir Mardanov has denied allegations of having sent down four students for political motives. In a conversation with journalists earlier today, he said that two students had already been restored. As for the other two, Namik Feiziyev has been sent down from the Pedagogical University "because of poor progress in six subjects," and Turan Aliyev has been sent down from the Baku State University because he violated "internal rules."
Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent