Karabakh University denies employing man jailed for violence against students

Karabakh University has denied reports that Faig Mammadov, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for blackmail, fraud and sexual violence against female students, had worked at the university.

“Faig Mammadov has never worked at Karabakh University and has had no employment or other cooperation with the university,” the university’s public relations department said in a statement.

The Ganja Court of Grave Crimes has sentenced F.M., who worked as a football coach in Shusha and Khankendi, in a case involving crimes against two female students of Karabakh University.

According to the court, Mammadov met the two victims, identified as A.B. and E.M., while working in Shusha and Khankendi. He allegedly presented himself as unmarried and as an employee of a law enforcement agency to gain their trust.

The court found that he told one of the victims that videos involving her and her boyfriend had allegedly reached university officials and the Karabakh Regional Education Department. He then demanded money, claiming he could “resolve the issue” and prevent her from being expelled. Using the names of officials, including university rector Shahin Bayramov, he obtained 2,100 manats from the victim in cash and through bank transfers.

He also took a 1,150-manat Acer laptop belonging to another victim under the pretext of helping her prepare for an exam, the court said. He later threatened both students with fabricated messages and expulsion from the university if they ended their relationships with him.

The court also found that Mammadov twice summoned one of the victims to an apartment after threatening to distribute videos and claiming that her father would kill both her and her boyfriend. The court said he then subjected her to forced sexual acts.

A forensic medical examination confirmed that the victim had sustained injuries and scar tissue.

Mammadov confirmed in court that he had worked as a football coach in Shusha and Khankendi, but denied the charges, saying the money had been borrowed and that he had not committed sexual violence. The court found the evidence sufficient to convict him.

The Ganja Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Mammadov to 11 years in prison and barred him from holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for two years. He will serve his sentence in a high-security correctional facility.

Gulnar Nazimqizi