BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. As a result of comprehensive counterintelligence measures, the State Security Service of Azerbaijan prevented terrorist provocations and the collection of intelligence information that were planned to be carried out in Azerbaijan by the special services of the Islamic Republic of Iran – IRGC, Trend reports.
With the aim of causing panic in society and damaging the international reputation of the country, the strategic targets included the Baku–Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Embassy of Israel in Azerbaijan, one of the leaders of the Mountain Jews religious community, and the Ashkenazi Synagogue. Three explosive devices were brought into the country.
These explosive devices were later neutralized.
To identify strategic facilities and targets of interest to Iranian special services in Azerbaijan, as well as individuals cooperating with them, operational search activities were organized.
It was established that Iranian citizens Behnam Sahibali Rustamzade and Yaser Rahim Zandkian, acting in prior collusion, established a criminal connection with Tarhan Guliyev to bring an explosive device into the country. A container placed on the instructions of Yaser Rahim Zandkian was discovered near the village of Shikhovo in the Sabail district. Inspection revealed that it contained 7.73 kg of “C-4” explosive material intended for detonating objects and concrete structures. Operational filming by the State Security Service established that Tarhan Guliyev, together with Nicat Agayev, arrived by car, retrieved the container, and in subsequent days hid the explosive device in the Nasimi district of Baku.
Later, it became known that, on the orders of Iranian citizen Hosein Savar Saber Azarundbileh, who has direct links with the IRGC, another container with an explosive device was brought into the country. It contained two remotely controlled C-4 type explosive devices. Azerbaijani citizen Asad Abdullayev, who had prior criminal connections, went to the hiding place and took the container. Since this was known in advance, the storage location was equipped with hidden video surveillance by the State Security Service. The next day, it was established that Rashad Rustamov and Asad Abdullayev together took the container from the known hiding place in the village of Shikhlar, Gobustan district, in the Baglar area, and hid it near Abdullayev’s residence. It was established that the Iranian citizens who established criminal connections with Azerbaijani citizens, in addition to drug smuggling, had direct ties with the IRGC.
Additionally, the circle of individuals cooperating with the IRGC in collecting intelligence, planning terrorist acts, and organizing assassination attempts in Azerbaijan was determined. Iranian citizen Sajjad Moghaddam Sati Sofli Evad Sheikhzadeh, who promised $50,000 to the person who was to install an explosive device under the bridge in the Sanggachal settlement of the Garadagh district of Baku, was searching for an executor. It was also revealed that Sheikhzadeh received special instructions from the IRGC to prepare assassination plans against Jewish individuals living in Azerbaijan.
Previously, the IRGC was unable to determine the locations of three explosive devices because the persons entrusted with them severed contact with the organizers. Therefore, on the initiative of Iranian citizen Hafez Tavassoli, the delivery of the next explosive device was ensured. Near the Shipbuilding Plant in the Garadagh district of Baku, an explosive device weighing 1,280 grams was discovered. Its lethal radius of effect is 250–300 meters. Hafez Tavassoli, identified as the coordinating agent for the IRGC, contacted Khadija Agayeva and asked her to keep the package for two days. After receiving it, the Azerbaijani citizen hid it in a secret location in Masazir settlement in the following days. Khadija Agayeva noticed that an unknown person approached on a motorcycle and took the package, and she reported it to H. Tavassoli. After Agayeva left the explosive in the prearranged location in Masazir, on the instructions of Sajjad Sheikhzadeh Moghaddam Sati Sofli Evad, Elvin Bahruz oglu Ahmadov took the explosive device and hid it near his home in Bilajari settlement.
At the same time, Iranian citizen Hafez Tavassoli contacted Azerbaijani citizen Narmina Shabanova to carry out an assassination attempt on a public figure. She was instructed to go to the address of the public figure’s workplace and photograph the location and the individual. In addition, Shabanova received instructions from the IRGC regarding the reception of a foreign citizen sent to Azerbaijan through a third country for the assassination, placing the person in a hotel, and obtaining weapons and a vehicle for the crime. At that moment, Naib Ismiyev informed Narmina Shabanova that he could assassinate the public figure for a reward of 80,000 manats. In connection with this, N. Ismiyev visited the public figure’s workplace, filmed the site on his mobile phone for planning the crime and escape, and sent the footage to the criminal group member Narmina Shabanova. They also arranged to search for and obtain firearms and other means to commit the crime, thus preparing for the assassination attempt on the public figure.
As a result of the preventive urgent operational-search measures conducted by the State Security Service, these particularly serious crimes were prevented. Tarhan Guliyev, Nicat Agayev, Asad Abdullayev, Rashad Rustamov, Khadija Agayeva, Elvin Ahmadov, Narmina Shabanova, and Naib Ismiyev admitted to the acts committed, as well as to taking explosive devices and executing instructions related to assassination plans on behalf of persons linked to the IRGC.
It was also established that the person directly organizing terrorist acts against Azerbaijan was IRGC intelligence officer, Colonel Ali Asgar Bordbar Sheramini.
Iranian citizens Yaser Rahim Zandkian, Behnam Sahibali Rustamzade, Hosein Savar Saber Azarundbileh, and Sajjad Moghaddam Sati Sofli Evad Sheikhzadeh, involved in intelligence gathering and organizing terrorist acts to destabilize the situation and create panic among the population, have been placed on the international wanted list.
During the operational-investigative measures, decisions were also made regarding Azerbaijani citizens involved in criminal activities. Tarhan Guliyev, Nicat Agayev, Asad Abdullayev, and Rashad Rustamov were found guilty under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code and sentenced to six years and six months of imprisonment.
Narmina Shabanova and Naib Ismiyev are charged under Articles 28 and 277 (preparation for an assassination attempt on a state or public figure) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, while Elvin Ahmadov is charged under Article 228.2.1 (illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transport, and carrying of weapons, their components, ammunition, explosives, and devices committed by a group of persons in prior conspiracy). The court imposed pretrial detention for them. Materials collected by the State Security Service Investigation Department have been submitted to the court.
Comprehensive investigative and operational measures continue to identify individuals planning terrorist acts and assassination attempts in Azerbaijan on behalf of foreign intelligence services, as well as those cooperating with them.