Today, the General Meeting of the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) was held. Not the speeches, but the photographs of the scientists participating in the event caused discussions. Thus, it was observed that some scientists dozed off during the event where scientific topics were discussed.
Among those whose photos were circulated is the renowned scientist - Doctor of Philological Sciences and Professor, literary critic Gazanfar Pashayev.
Modern.az contacted Gazanfar Pashayev to learn his reaction to the incident.
The veteran professor stated in his comments to our website that he did not doze off during the event, but listened carefully to the speakers. He merely appeared in the photo with his eyes closed:
“I cannot believe that such a step would be taken against a person who serves both the state and the people, against me. They shone a light into my eyes from that side and took the picture from this side. I didn't know what that was. Would a person with their hands in that position be asleep? A sleeping person's hands would fall to their side. The unscrupulous person shone a light into my eyes and took the picture from the other side. Yagub Mahmudov is a scholar who highly values my work; how could I sleep in front of him? The event was very interesting and quite concise for me.”
Gazanfar Pashayev also answered our question regarding whether his other colleagues were asleep at the event:
“I did not pay attention to my surroundings; I was sitting, so how would I know what others were doing?”
“I ask God for time; I have some plans. Two of my books were published in 2025. My book “Karkuk Butterfly” about the Iraqi researcher Shamsaddin Kuzachi will be published in 3 days. Currently, my book is being translated into English in India. Three days ago, my book about Nasimi was published in Iran in the Arabic alphabet and has just reached me. I am engaged in work and science. Now you see that there are also those who provoke people. My book has been submitted for a state award. It is immediately felt that there are also those who do not wish well. I swear to God that they shone a light into my eyes. How was I to know they were taking my picture? Anyway, I cannot see well; I squint my eyes. They also invite me to shows, and I speak from beginning to end, but then I see that my eyes are closed in the picture. Therefore, I have said that I will not go to shows anymore. Now they have used this to take my picture,” the scientist concluded.
