Baku Takes Control of a Prominent University Linked to Gülen

The government of Azerbaijan has taken control of a prominent private university, commonly associated with Fethullah Gülen, a preacher and critic of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and placed it under the management of the country's national oil company. The Azerbaijan office of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports that students of the Caucasus University were unaware of these recent events and do not know exactly what has happened to their university. On July 21, the Ministry of Science of Azerbaijan requested the president of Caucasus University to close the institution. Subsequently, control was handed over to another university managed by the state oil company. However, students remain uninformed and still do not know what will happen next. Radio Free Europe reports that they have expressed hope that Caucasus University, which ranks among the best universities in Azerbaijan, will not be shut down. Students and faculty have yet to receive an official statement from the university's administration, and all they know is information that has mainly circulated on social media. Caucasus University was established in 1993 and is considered a secular educational institution. Reports indicate that its previous management was close to Fethullah Gülen, who resides in the United States and is regarded as a critic of Erdoğan's government. Erdoğan considers the Gülen-inspired 'Hizmet' movement a 'terrorist group' and has accused Gülen of being behind the failed coup in Turkey. Gülen has denied these accusations. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty states that reports suggest Azerbaijan has entered into cooperation with Ankara, its close ally, to suppress individuals and groups associated with Gülen.