The return of table tennis ace Huseyn (13) is still a long way off. The authorities rejected his application for a student visa. The Azerbaijani is devastated. His opponents continue to fight.
Huseyn Salimov could not and would not hold back his tears. “I just want to go back. Why can’t you do that?” he sobbed into the phone, having just heard the news that was so bitter to him.
Even his mother could not comfort him – she is currently in a hospital in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, after an operation. He himself lives in Lenkoran, almost 300 kilometers away. There, the 13-year-old hopes to return to Salzburg. But all hopes will probably be in vain. The authorities have rejected his application for a student visa. A corresponding letter from the Office of Public Order arrived at his companions in Salzburg last Friday.
As a reminder, the 13-year-old was deported along with his parents to his former homeland of Azerbaijan in a cloak-and-dagger operation. The Salimovs have been living in Salzburg since 2016 and have integrated as well as possible. The mother diligently attended German courses. Sohnemann Huseyn attended Campus Mirabell High School and is a gifted table tennis player. “He is the best in his age category in Salzburg,” said UTTC Salzburg coach Michael Pichler. The unexpected deportation of the family not only caused great consternation in his club.
“He’s a great guy”
Since then, UTTC Vice President Walter Windischbauer has been fighting for the return of the sports talent. “He’s a great guy,” he says. Together with the family, he also applied for the student visa. Everything was already prepared for his return. “His daily life would be arranged, all official requirements have been met.” A host family would have taken the boy in. “Huseyn would cost the taxpayer nothing,” emphasizes Windischbauer.
Authorities impose an “entry ban”
The authorities rejected the request because Huseyn and his family were “banned from Austria for two years”. The final decision is still pending. Windischbauer is fighting this, hoping for “discretionary leeway” on the part of the authorities.
“Spent whole school years in Salzburg”
Huseyn also continues to believe in a return. He is not allowed to go to school in Azerbaijan for the time being, the 13-year-old does not speak the Cyrillic alphabet. “He spent his entire school days in Salzburg,” says Windischbauer.
Source: Krone

I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.