Terrorist group members detained and brought to Azerbaijan

The State Security Service (SSS) of Azerbaijan reported the detention and delivery to the country of individuals involved in the activities of a terrorist group. As reported by Oxu.Az with reference to the press service of the SSS, comprehensive investigative and operational measures are ongoing on criminal cases initiated in connection with the formation of criminal groups from citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan who have ties to international terrorist organizations. These groups were preparing terrorist acts, creating underground shelters in the forests of the northern region of the country and providing themselves with weapons, ammunition, explosives, technical devices and other necessary equipment.

During the investigation, it was established that members of the group created to commit terrorist crimes – citizens of Azerbaijan Vugar Najafli, Jamal Gozalov, Tofig Yusifli and Dadash Gashimov – left the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2024 and were hiding in the mountainous areas on the border of Pakistan with Afghanistan. Their participation in combat exercises and armed conflicts outside Azerbaijan as part of an international terrorist organization, as well as their undergoing armed training for criminal purposes, were revealed.

As a result of operational and investigative measures carried out by the State Security Service together with partner foreign special services and law enforcement agencies, these individuals were detained in the territory of foreign states and delivered to Azerbaijan.

In addition, during the investigation, it was established that the terrorist activities of Tofig Yusifli and Dadash Gashimov were financed by citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mir Javad Huseynli and Tural Agayev, who were also involved in other crimes.

The members of the criminal group were held accountable under Articles 214-1 (financing terrorism), 283-1.3 (dissemination of religious sects, participation in stable groups, teachings and armed conflicts created outside the Republic of Azerbaijan under the pretext of performing religious rites based on religious hatred) and other articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. By the court’s decision, a preventive measure in the form of arrest was chosen for them.

Currently, operational and investigative measures on the criminal case are ongoing.

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