Parviz (on left) from Thoughts on the Road

We received an email from Emin Huseynzade, the Caucasus project manager for Transition Online, a well-regarded magazine on Central Asian issues, about Parviz Azimov. Parviz posted on his blog about corruption at Lankaran State University, the college he attended in the southern Azeri city of Lankaran. He was ejected from university because of his posting.

He is in his 4th year and should graduate in 1.5 months. But university officials decided to do it, because his posts were reprinted in big newspapers. I am calling for help. He is trained by two-months-long trainings provided by Transitions Online on new media and blogging.

Parviz has worked hard to graduate from college. He’s clearly principled and talented enough to research and write in such a way that professional newspapers are willing to use his work. His college should suck it up and reward Parviz for his work, not punish him for it.

According to the blog Thoughts on the Road, Parviz is petitioning the Azeri pariliament for redress. College students especially among our membership should make an effort to write the Lankaran University leadership in support. The LU email is office@lsu.edu.az. Click here for the website of the Azeri parliament. office@lsu.edu.a

Meanwhile, the university, in a country notorious for its corruption, is attempting to claim Parviz is a drug dealer!

Here’s a link to Parviz’s press conference about his being expelled.