BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. As a result of complex counter-intelligence operations, the State Security Service has thwarted acts of terror and sabotage, as well as the gathering of intelligence information, planned to be carried out in Azerbaijan by SEPAH, the special services organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Trend reports.
With the intent of instilling panic among the public and damaging our country's international standing, the strategic Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Embassy of Israel in Azerbaijan, a leader of the Mountain Jews Religious Community, and the Ashkenazi Synagogue were targeted. Three explosive devices were smuggled into the country; however, these explosives were neutralised, preventing their handover to another person. Operational search measures were initiated to identify the strategic facilities and targets of interest to the Iranian special services within our country, as well as the individuals collaborating with them.
It was established that citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Rustamzada Behnam Sahibali and Zandkian Yaser Rahim, acting in prior collusion, formed a criminal conspiracy with Guliyev Tarkhan Tarlan oğlu to smuggle an explosive device into the country. Acting on the instructions of the citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Zandkian Yaser Rahim, an unidentified container was located near the Shikhov settlement in the Sabail district. An inspection of the container revealed 7.730 kg of "C-4" explosives, designed to detonate objects and concrete installations. It was determined that Tarkhan Guliyev, along with Nijat Aghayev, came by car, took the container from where it was placed, and in the following days, they hid the explosive device in the Nasimi district of Baku.
Subsequently, it was established that another container holding an explosive device was smuggled into the country on the instructions of a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Azarundbileh Hosein Savar Saber, who has direct links with SEPAH. It contained two remote-controlled "C-4" type explosive devices.
Azerbaijani citizen Abdullayev Asad Tofig oğlu, with whom a criminal connection had been established in advance, visited the secret stash and retrieved the container. Having received prior intelligence regarding this, the State Security Service equipped the location with covert video surveillance to document the incident. The following day, it was established that Rashad Rustamov and Asad Abdullayev jointly retrieved the container from the known secret stash in the Baghlar tract of the Shikhlar settlement, Gobustan district, and hid the package near A. Abdullayev's residence. It was determined that the Iranian citizens who had formed criminal links with the Azerbaijani nationals were not only engaged in drug smuggling but also had direct links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In addition to the aforementioned, the network of contacts belonging to SEPAH—which orchestrated the gathering of intelligence information and the planning of terror, sabotage, and assassination acts in the Republic of Azerbaijan—was identified. Specifically, a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sheikhzadeh Sajjad Moghadam Sati Sofli Evad, who promised $50,000 to anyone willing to place an explosive device under a bridge in the Sangachal settlement of Baku's Garadagh district, was actively searching for a perpetrator. Concurrently, it was revealed that S. Sheikhzadeh had received special directives from SEPAH to prepare assassination plots against individuals of Jewish origin residing in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The locations of the initial three explosive devices deployed by SEPAH were not identified because their trusted associates severed ties with the instigators. Consequently, the smuggling of the next explosive device was organised at the initiative of a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hafez Tavassoli. Thus, one explosive device weighing 1,280 grams was located near the Shipbuilding Yard in the capital's Garadagh district. The lethal radius of this explosive is 250–300 metres. Hafez Tavassoli, identified as a SEPAH liaison agent, contacted Aghayeva Khadija Zakir qızı and requested she hold the box for two days. The Azerbaijani citizen, who retrieved the package using provided coordinates, placed the box in a concealed location in the Masazir settlement in the subsequent days.
After observing one individual on a motorcycle approach and collect the package, Khadija Aghayeva informed H. Tavassoli. Following Aghayeva’s placement of the explosive material in the pre-agreed location in the Masazir settlement, Ahmadov Elvin Bahruz oğlu, acting on the instructions of Sajjad Sheikhzadeh Moghaddam Sati Sofli Evad, retrieved the explosive device and hid it near his courtyard house in the Bilajari settlement.
Simultaneously, a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hafez Tavassoli, contacted an Azerbaijani citizen, Shabanova Narmina Ramiz qızı, with the objective of committing the assassination of a public figure. She was instructed to visit the public figure's workplace and take photographs of the location and the individual in question. Furthermore, Shabanova received instructions from SEPAH to meet a foreign national sent to Azerbaijan from a third country to carry out the assassination, accommodate them in a hotel, and procure a weapon and vehicle to commit the crime. At that moment, Ismiyev Naib Aghaismi oğlu informed Narmina Shabanova that he could assassinate the public figure for 80,000 manats. Consequently, Naib Ismiyev visited the public figure's workplace and used his mobile phone to record videos of the location in order to plan the execution of the crime and his subsequent escape, sending the footage to criminal group member Narmina Shabanova. Concurrently, they undertook preparations for the assassination by conspiring to acquire a firearm, as well as other tools and means necessary to commit the offence.
As a result of urgent, preventative operational search measures conducted by the State Security Service, these particularly grave crimes were thwarted. Guliyev Tarkhan Tarlan oğlu, Aghayev Nijat Zaman oğlu, Abdullayev Asad Tofig oğlu, Rustamov Rashad Farhad oğlu, Aghayeva Khadija Zakir qızı, Ahmadov Elvin Bahruz oğlu, Shabanova Narmina Ramiz qızı, and Ismiyev Naib Ismikhan oğlu confessed to their actions, including retrieving the explosive device on the instructions of SEPAH-affiliated individuals and executing tasks related to the assassination plots.
During this period, it was revealed that the individual directly orchestrating the terrorist acts against our country was Ali Asghar Bordbar Sherami, an officer of SEPAH's Intelligence Organisation holding the military rank of colonel.
An international search warrant has been issued for citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran—Zandkian Yaser Rahim, Rustamzada Behnam Sahibali, Hafez Tavassoli, and Sheikhzadeh Sajjad Moghadam Sati Sofi Evad—whose involvement in the gathering of intelligence information and the organisation of terror and sabotage acts to disrupt the country's stability and induce panic among the public has been established.
Decisions were also handed down regarding the Azerbaijani
citizens whose involvement in these criminal acts was uncovered
during the operational and investigative measures. Guliyev Tarkhan
Tarlan oğlu and Aghayev Nijat Zaman oğlu, Abdullayev Asad Tofig
oğlu and Rustamov Rashad Farhad oğlu were found guilty under the
relevant articles of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 6 years and
6 months in prison.
Shabanova Narmina Ramiz qızı and Ismiyev Naib Aghaismi oğlu were
brought to criminal responsibility under Articles 28 and 277
(preparation for the assassination of a statesman or public figure)
of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AR CC), while
Ahmadov Elvin Bahruz oğlu was charged under Article 228.2.1 of the
CC (illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, and
carrying of weapons, their component parts, ammunition, explosives,
and explosive devices by a group of persons in prior
collusion).
The court has remanded them in custody as a preventative measure. The materials collected by the Main Investigation Department of the State Security Service have been submitted to the court.
Complex investigative and operational measures are ongoing to identify the wider network of individuals who organised the planning of these terror, sabotage, and assassination acts in the Republic of Azerbaijan on behalf of foreign special services, as well as those collaborating with them.
For this very reason, the public is urged to remain vigilant, and it is advised to refrain from any criminal activity that culminates in imprisonment.