Azerbaijan's State Security Service conducted counterterrorism operations in 5 countries, 11 people detained - VIDEO
During antiterrorism and operational-investigative measures conducted by the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SSS), criminal acts by citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan and foreign states related to secret organizational activity, preparation for terrorism, and the financing of terrorism were uncovered.
This was reported by the press service of the SSS.
It is reported that within the framework of the mentioned measures it was established that Vugar Abdullayev, previously convicted of criminal acts as part of a terrorist group called the "Sumgayit community," entered into a criminal conspiracy with citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jalal Hajiyev, Javid Aliyev, Nijat Ahmadov, Nazim Aliyev, Ilkin Hasanzade, and others with the aim of carrying out attempts on the lives of public and religious figures in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The secret meetings and telephone conversations they held for this purpose were recorded and documented in accordance with the established procedure.
Investigative and operational measures conducted in the criminal case that was opened established that the members of the criminal association, with the aim of carrying out attempts on the lives of citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan selected in advance as targets, studied their regular travel routes and the state of their personal security, collected information, and also agreed that after committing the planned criminal acts they would go into hiding in conflict zones located abroad.
In addition, during the investigation it was established that the member of the criminal association Jalal Hajiyev, directly as well as through citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan located outside the country — Ayhan Huseynov, Elshan Askerov, Fakhraddin Imanov, Nail Rasulov, Elgun Ismayilov, and others — organized the financing, via cryptocurrency systems, of individuals participating outside the Republic of Azerbaijan in armed conflicts on the basis of religious radicalism, including internationally recognized terrorist organizations.
In connection with the commission by the mentioned persons of crimes related to the financing of terrorism, numerous reliable pieces of evidence were obtained regarding the source of the funds collected under the pretext of conducting various religious rites through fictitious announcements posted on social networks, as well as the mechanisms of the money transfers.
As a result of joint measures with the security agencies and special services of other states, a wide circle of a criminal association consisting of individuals residing in various countries and participating in the financing of international terrorism was uncovered. As a result of parallel antiterrorism measures on the territory of 5 countries, a total of 10 members of the group were detained. One of those detained abroad — Elshan Askerov — was extradited to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The members of the criminal group Vugar Abdullayev, Jalal Hajiyev, Javid Aliyev, Nijat Ahmadov, Nazim Aliyev, Ilkin Hasanzade, Ayhan Huseynov, Elshan Askerov, Fakhraddin Imanov, Nail Rasulov, and Elgun Ismayilov were held liable as defendants in the criminal case under investigation under Articles 214-1, 218.1, 28, 277 (financing of terrorism, creation of a criminal association (organization), preparation for an attempt on the life of a state or public figure) and other articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. By decision of the court, they have been remanded in custody as a preventive measure.
At present, investigative and operational measures in the criminal case are continuing.
