Criminal activities involving the clandestine organization, preparation of terrorist acts and financing of terrorism by Azerbaijani and foreign citizens have been uncovered during counterterrorism and operational-search measures carried out by Azerbaijan's State Security Service (SSS), the SSS Press Service told APA.

It was reported that, as part of these measures, it was established that Vugar Abdullayev, who had previously been convicted of committing crimes as a member of the terrorist group known as the "Sumgayit Jamaat," had entered into a criminal conspiracy with Azerbaijani citizens Jalal Hajiyev, Javid Aliyev, Nijat Ahmadov, Nazim Aliyev, Ilkin Hasanzade and others to assassinate public and religious figures in Azerbaijan. Their secret meetings and telephone conversations held for this purpose were recorded and duly documented.

Investigative and operational measures conducted as part of the criminal case established that members of the criminal organization had collected information about the regular travel routes and personal security arrangements of Azerbaijani citizens whom they had previously selected as targets for assassination. They had also agreed to flee to conflict zones abroad after carrying out the planned criminal acts.

The investigation also established that Jalal Hajiyev, a member of the criminal organization, had organized the financing, through cryptocurrency systems, of individuals participating in armed conflicts abroad motivated by religious radicalism, including internationally recognized terrorist organizations. He carried out these activities both directly and through Azerbaijani citizens residing abroad, including Aykhan Huseynov, Elshan Asgarov, Fakhraddin Imanov, Nail Rasulov, Elgun Ismayilov and others. Numerous pieces of credible evidence were obtained regarding the sources of funds collected under the pretext of performing various religious rituals through fake advertisements posted on social media, as well as the money transfer mechanisms used by the aforementioned individuals to finance terrorism. As a result of joint measures with the security and intelligence agencies of other countries, a wider network of the criminal organization, consisting of individuals residing in various countries and involved in financing international terrorism, was exposed. A total of 10 members of the group were detained during simultaneous counterterrorism operations conducted in five countries.

Elshan Asgarov, one of those detained abroad, was extradited to Azerbaijan.

Members of the criminal group — Vugar Abdullayev, Jalal Hajiyev, Javid Aliyev, Nijat Ahmadov, Nazim Aliyev, Ilkin Hasanzade, Aykhan Huseynov, Elshan Asgarov, Fakhraddin Imanov, Nail Rasulov and Elgun Ismayilov — have been charged in the criminal case under Articles 214-1, 218.1, 28 and 277 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan (financing of terrorism, establishment of a criminal organization, and preparation for an assassination attempt on a state or public figure), as well as other articles. By court decision, pre-trial detention has been ordered for them.

Investigative and operational measures in the criminal case are currently ongoing.

Source: en.apa.az