Baku State University Theology Department Deputy Dean Nigar Ismayilzade has filed a suit against fourth year student Zaka Miragayev.
In her appeal to the court, Ismayilzade accused Miragayev of libel and slander, claiming the latter had been spreading rumors of Ismayilzade’s involvement in corruption in the university.
Earlier this year, Miragayev wrote an
open letter
to local media accusing the dean in question of corruption and, in particular, of taking bribes during exam season. This e-mail was published by several media outlets in Azerbaijan.
On June 7, Miragayev failed to appear in court to face the charges against him.
Miragayev
told
the RFE/RL Azerbaijan Service that he had left the country because he has doubts about the judicial system.
“I don’t want to accept an unjust court trial and an unjust court decision and be arrested. Despite all my efforts to fight corruption and bribery, they did not look into my complaints in the country, and the Ministry of Education and the Prosecutor’s Office did not investigate my complaints of bribery [at BSU]. The Ministry of Education states that this issue should be solved within BSU itself. This is absurd. Because BSU itself hushes up such cases. They want me to be arrested because I have exposed bribery and corruption. I had to leave the country,” said Miragayev.
At today’s trial, Ismayilzade demanded Miragayev’s arrest.
