“GEGHARD”
SCIENTIFIC ANALYTICAL
FOUNDATION
2024
2024
Corruption in Azerbaijan is widespread. According to opposition groups, it is also deeply rooted in the country's education sector. This is evidenced by the cases that have been uncovered.
The "Democracy and Prosperity Movement" published a document regarding Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index 2018. According to this index, Azerbaijan ranks 152nd out of 180 in terms of corruption and is included in the list of the 28 most corrupt countries in the world, and according to 2017 data, Azerbaijan ranked 122nd. If the situation doesn't improve, the low score in Corruption Perception Index will lead to capital flight, decrease in foreign investment and tourism, a lower credit rating, and negative reports from the World Bank and other international financial institutions regarding Azerbaijan[1].
There have been incidents of bribery recorded at Baku State University. A voice recording of Sadagat Ahmadova, a lecturer at the Faculty of International Relations and Economics, was made public: “If you fail the exam the first time, you'll be given a second chance. If you fail again, there will be another exam in September. Or, you can give 3000-5000 manat and pass the exam on the first try”.
An “investigation” has been launched into this incident.
In an effort to avoid such incidents and maintain objectivity, the university has been implementing measures over the past three years, but to no avail. This time, students have documented another case of bribery. In response to a journalist's question about how much money is currently being demanded for exams, one student replied, "It varies every year. The minimum is 100 manats," while another student noted, "They never ask during the exam itself. They pass it on through others, for at least 150, 200, or 250 manats.[2]"
High-profile corruption cases have been registered at the Baku Economic University as well. The name of the university rector Adalat Muradov appears in the shady suspicious transactions. According to reports, transferring a student from a foreign university to Azerbaijan State University of Economics now costs 30,000 manats, while transfers from other universities within Azerbaijan cost 20,000 manats.
The process was carried out as follows: the rector made monthly payments to the management staff of the university in a "package" system under the name of "financial aid".
The deans of the faculties of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics receive a "salary" in the amount of 2000 manats per month. In return, the leadership of the university was requested not to interfere in the process of collecting money from students, and this process is under the control of persons appointed by the rector[3].
Another bribery case reported by Azerbaijan's General Prosecutor Office: "The dean of the Agrarian University, who took bribes from students, was arrested. There are reasonable suspicions that he took bribes from students from the faculty he heads, for providing appropriate grades to students who did not attend classes[4]".
Azerbaijani economist-expert Gadir Ibrahimli writes the following about entrenched corruption in the educational sector: “Tuition fees serve the corrupt interests of rectors. Do you remember the reasons for the resignation of the former rector of Baku State University Abel Maharramov? By embezzling tuition fees, he founded a large business for his son in distant Spain”.
Social benefits are being reduced, the retirement age is rising, and education is becoming more expensive. In short, social doors are closed to the poor. However, if war starts again, they will immediately find these poor guys and send them to the front line, they will die from Armenian shells, and then they will say "I have a martyr" and become patriots. And of course, they will hide their children[5]”.
This series of high-profile corruption cases can be continued endlessly. Although Azerbaijan tries to present itself as a democratic country to the international community, the country's corrupt educational system proves otherwise.
[1] Korrupsiya milli təhlükəsizlik üçün qorxunc miqyas alıb – ADR, https://turan.az/az/siyaset/korrupsiya-milli-tehlukesizlik-ucun-qorxunc-miqyas-alib-adr, accessed 30/06/2024 թ., 21:24:
[2] BDU-da 5 min manatlıq rüşvət iddiası - BAKU TV, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCj-2Bs_g9U, accessed 30/06/2024 թ., 22:09:
[3] İqtisad Universitetində "iqtisadi korrupsiya- müdhiş faktlar, https://sonxeber.az/12089/iqtisad-universitetinde-iqtisadi-korrupsiya-mudhis-faktlar, accessed ` 30/06/2024 թ., 22:48:
[4] Azərbaycan Universitetləri, https://t.me/s/uniaze?before=6838, accessed 30/06/2024 թ., 23:39:
[5] Təhsil haqqları rektorların korrupsiya maraqlarına xidmət edir, https://newscenter.az/2021/06/28/thsil-haqqlari-rektorlarin-korrupsiya-maraqlarina-xidmt-edir.html, accessed 30/06/2024 թ., 23:21: