Second Student Death Rocks Ganja School as Questions Mount Over Circumstances

A second student from the same Ganja school has died under disputed circumstances, raising concerns about a troubling pattern as conflicting accounts emerge about the cause of death.

The body of 15-year-old Umid Niftaliyev was discovered on June 18 at an auto repair shop in the "Mahsara Gardens" area of Ganja, where he worked as an assistant mechanic alongside his brother. The teenager was a 9th-grade student at Ganja City Complete Secondary School No. 34 – the same institution attended by 18-year-old Elgun Ibrahimov, who died just over a month earlier.

Conflicting Accounts Emerge

Press reports have claimed that Niftaliyev committed suicide, with initial examinations allegedly supporting this conclusion. According to media accounts, the teenager had been making "depressive posts" on social media, including content shared the day before his death.

However, school officials have strongly disputed these claims, telling Meydan TV that the suicide reports are false.

"He was a very kind, sociable child. The claims about him being depressive and committing suicide are lies. We are also saddened by his death," a school employee stated, adding that Niftaliyev's "psychological condition was normal."

Pattern of Disputed Deaths

The death bears striking similarities to the case of Elgun Ibrahimov, who was found in critical condition in an abandoned building on May 12. Despite being rushed to hospital, the 18-year-old could not be saved.

Like the current case, Ibrahimov's death was surrounded by conflicting narratives. His family maintained that he had been "beaten to death," while press reports initially suggested suicide. Official authorities later issued a joint statement through the Chief Prosecutor's Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and State Security Service, concluding that Ibrahimov had "died from falling from a height."

Investigations Ongoing

The Ganja City Chief Prosecutor's Office has confirmed that an investigation is underway into Niftaliyev's death, though officials have provided limited details about their findings.

The connection between the two cases – both involving students from the same school and both generating disputed accounts of the circumstances – has raised questions in the community about what may be behind these tragic incidents.

Current Status

As investigations continue, the deaths of these two young students have left their school community grieving and searching for answers. The contradictory accounts surrounding both cases highlight the need for thorough, transparent investigations to provide clarity to the families and community affected by these losses.

The cases underscore broader concerns about youth mental health and safety, particularly when official accounts conflict with family testimonies and community perceptions of the victims' circumstances.