Azerbaijan’s State Security Service Uncovers Massive Conspiracy: From 'Billionaires’ Union' to Treason
In a series of comprehensive measures taken by the State Security Service (SGB) of Azerbaijan to prevent provocative and destructive actions by foreign intelligence agencies against the security, national interests, and welfare of Azerbaijan, substantiated suspicions have arisen that Azerbaijani citizens—Mehdiyev Ramiz Enver oglu, Abbasov Abbas Aydin oglu, Kerimli Ali Amirhuseyn oglu, and others—have committed acts aimed at the violent seizure of power and the violent alteration of the constitutional order of the state.
This was stated in a message disseminated by the SGB on Thursday.
According to the indictment presented to the accused in the criminal case, the co-founders and leaders of an organization established by foreign intelligence agencies to interfere in political processes in Azerbaijan, registered in a foreign state on July 4, 2012, under the name 'Union of Azerbaijani Organizations of Russia' and referred to as the 'Billionaires’ Union,' namely Abbasov Abbas Aydin oglu and Ibrahimbekov Rustam Mamed Ibrahim oglu, as well as Mehdiyev Ramiz Enver oglu, chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Kerimli Ali Amirhuseyn oglu, and party members Gahramanly Fuad Ali oglu, Zahidov Ganimat Salim oglu, and others, conspired to violently seize state power and alter the existing constitutional order of the state.
After establishing an organization called the 'National Council of Democratic Forces' (National Council), which nominated foreign citizen Rustam Ibrahimbekov as a candidate in the 2013 presidential elections in Azerbaijan, they, with financial and other organizational support from foreign intelligence agencies, engaged in activities aimed at organizing mass riots to violently seize state power, disobeying lawful demands of government representatives, disrupting public order, and halting the operation of transport, enterprises, agencies, and organizations. They also directed funds amounting to 933,828.40 manats, including money received from Ramiz Mehdiyev and Abbas Abbasov through PFPA member Ibrahim Mamed Aziz oglu and others, to recruit individuals from various regions of the republic to carry out the aforementioned actions.
According to technical evidence attached to the criminal case materials, members of the organization known as the 'Billionaires’ Union' were instructed to send Azerbaijani citizens working under their command or under their patronage in some form in the foreign state where they resided to Azerbaijan during the 2013 presidential elections. Each of these individuals was tasked with recruiting relatives and close associates in Azerbaijan to be used in accordance with the instructions of foreign intelligence agencies at rallies and mass riots.
It has come to light that, following preliminary negotiations and in line with the wishes of authorized persons from the relevant foreign state, a secret letter sent by the 'National Council' to the leadership of that foreign state in 2013 contained a request to support the council’s activities and a proposal to exert pressure on the Azerbaijani state to implement 'reforms' similar to those conducted in that country.
According to the aforementioned indictment, Ganimat Zahidov, since early 2013, acting on behalf of Ali Kerimli, engaged in secret dealings with representatives of foreign intelligence agencies, negotiated with them, and requested to utilize the extensive organizational and special capabilities of these agencies to ensure his rise to power in the Azerbaijani Republic. In return, he promised to safeguard the strategic interests of the foreign state in Azerbaijan. Detailing specific arrangements, the parties also agreed that, should Ali Kerimli come to power, the Azerbaijani Republic would gradually become a full member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
At the same time, according to the indictment, Ali Kerimli, continuing his criminal activities in line with a prearranged agreement with the aforementioned individuals, on the night of July 14-15, 2020, when Azerbaijani citizens took to the streets in Baku to support the army and protest the aggressive war unleashed by Armenia in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, instructed Fuad Gahramanly and others to join the march participants. They were to organize small groups with individuals represented in the party, then replace patriotic slogans with provocative calls to create a situation of chaos, control the crowd, and use the situation to seize the administrative buildings of the Milli Majlis of the Azerbaijani Republic and the 'Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting' CJSC, intending to announce the seizure of power through the mass media.
Additionally, on September 27, 2025, Ramiz Mehdiyev, through his assistant Amirov Eldar Gurban oglu and others, presented Ali Kerimli with written material prepared in August-September 2025 in a foreign language titled 'Proposals for Restructuring the State Governance System,' containing secret plans and action directions against state power. To coordinate the issues outlined in this document, on October 3, 2025, he sent the final edited version of the aforementioned article through employees of 'Sharq-Garb' OJSC, of which he is the de facto owner, to senior officials of foreign intelligence agencies with whom he had previously personally contacted. This transmission was technically recorded.
Through these actions, Ramiz Mehdiyev committed acts aimed at seizing state power with the assistance of foreign intelligence agencies and violently altering the constitutional structure, as well as betraying the state by aiding representatives of a foreign state against the interests of the state security of the Azerbaijani Republic.
Furthermore, by October 13, 2025, Ramiz Mehdiyev legalized funds amounting to over 17,000,000 manats obtained through criminal means.
For their participation in the listed criminal acts, Abbas Abbasov, Ali Kerimli, Fuad Gahramanly, Mamed Ibrahim, and Ganimat Zahidov were charged under Articles 278.1 (actions aimed at the violent seizure or retention of power, as well as the violent alteration of the constitutional structure of the state), Eldar Amirov under Articles 32.5, 278.1 (aiding actions aimed at the violent seizure or retention of power, as well as the violent alteration of the constitutional structure of the state), and Ramiz Mehdiyev under Articles 193-1.3.2 (legalization of large-scale property obtained through criminal means), 274 (treason), and 278.1 of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijani Republic.
Since Abbas Abbasov, Fuad Gahramanly, and Ganimat Zahidov are outside the territory of the Azerbaijani Republic and are evading investigation, a search warrant has been issued for them, and a court has decided to impose a measure of restraint in the form of arrest in absentia.
The investigation into the criminal case is ongoing, as stated in the message.
