One of the biggest goals of modern youth is to study abroad. In this regard, they mostly turn to study abroad companies for advice. However, the adequacy is not always satisfactory. Some companies operating in this field either abandon young people halfway or direct them to the wrong path. All these are the realities of our time, and the number of such entities in the market is rapidly increasing. As a result, young people's desire to develop is taken away from them. Logically, such cases should be considered the gravest state crime. This is because such “dealers” hinder our youth, who will carry the future of Azerbaijan on their shoulders, with such actions.
Contracts and Unfulfilled Obligations
Even after payment is received from a citizen for study abroad services, sometimes no concrete result is provided. It is precisely after this stage that the true behavior of companies emerges. Individuals who speak gently and convincingly at the beginning of the process resort to threats, pressure, and various excuses to distance complainants from the process when complaints increase and payments are demanded back.
While conducting research in this direction, in media and other internet resources, we encounter extensive information about organizations such as “Max Group”, “AID Group”, “Xaricdə Təhsil Mərkəzi”, “Brain Academy”, “Elite Academy” and “Smart Business Group”. One of these is Pilgrim Education LLC.
Information obtained by AzEdu.az
AzEdu.az Education Portal has obtained unpleasant information from various internet resources. It has been revealed that the amount of funds allegedly embezzled is not small. According to complainants' posts, an official contract is concluded between the parties, and payments are made based on that contract. Nevertheless, the company does not fulfill its obligations under the contract. Subsequently, various manipulative methods are employed to evade responsibility, prolong the existing situation, and gain time. Among the complaints, the names of Aisa Aslanova, Executive Director of Pilgrim Education LLC, and Leyla Mustafayeva, Manager, are consistently mentioned.
Ganja Branch and Presentation Ceremony
It should be noted that in 2023, a branch of this company was also opened in Ganja. The presentation was attended by Müşfiq Cəfərov, Head of Ganja City Youth and Sports Main Department, Member of the National Assembly, Göyüş Şəfizadə, Assistant to the Deputy, Anar Sarıyev, Chairman of the Public Association "Center for Combating Corruption", as well as several public representatives and students. Despite countless complaints, the company continues its PR activities even today. It tries to attract more people by sharing its “successes” through various media outlets. The company was also awarded the “Friend of Youth” national prize for its results in 2023.
Allegations of Complainant Ali Garayev
Complainant Ali Garayev shared his experiences with Pilgrim Education LLC over the past 11 months: “According to the contract, the work was promised to be completed within a certain period, but these obligations were not fulfilled. Although I spent all my time on this matter during this period, there was no real result. The service intended in exchange for payment was not fully provided. Despite the promises made, the refund was not ensured, and the process dragged on as communication weakened. I have corresponded with Aisa Aslanova Nabi qizi, the head of the company, and Leyla Mustafayeva Rauf qizi, an employee. These statements are based on personal observations and facts and are not accusatory in nature.”
Statement by Firuza Hajiyeva
Another complainant, Firuza Hajiyeva, stated that she was deceived. According to her, it was promised that applications to universities and for scholarships would be made on time, the process would be transparent, and information would be provided at every step. However, it later turned out that some programs were not applied to at all. Hajiyeva notes that applications for several international programs were either delayed or not executed correctly, resulting in the loss of both scholarships and admission opportunities.
Company's Position
Pilgrim Education LLC stated in response to the complaints that the allegations are subjective and one-sided. The institution emphasized that applications made to relevant state bodies have been investigated, and no legal violation has been found. The company noted that there is no fact of any fraud or deception of official bodies. At the same time, it was stated that the final decision in the scholarship and admission process is made by universities and program organizers, and the results depend on the students' academic performance.
Tense Dialogue with the Media
We contacted Pilgrim Education LLC regarding the matter. A person working in the center's press service, who did not disclose his surname and introduced himself as Mr. Elman, reacted rudely. He placed the responsibility on the media, stating, “You can write whatever you want, we will meet in court.” Subsequently, an additional message was sent via WhatsApp. The message mentioned the name of education expert Kamran Asadov. It should be noted that Kamran Asadov was accused and arrested in connection with cases of illegal use of technical means during exams.
Deputy's Statement
We also contacted Deputy Müşfiq Cəfərov regarding the issue. He stated that he participated in the opening of the company's Ganja branch in 2023 based on an official invitation and had no other connection with the company.
The deputy noted that complainants should apply to law enforcement agencies.
Numerous complaints regarding Pilgrim Education LLC have been circulating for a long time. While customer dissatisfaction may be considered normal in some cases, the continuous nature of the complaints no longer seems coincidental.
As the media, we presented the positions of the parties in a balanced manner. The legal assessment of the remaining issues falls within the competence of the relevant authorities.
