The State Security Service (SSS) of Azerbaijan has conducted operations related to terrorism financing.
According to the SSS press service, the investigation established that a financing scheme was organized through cryptocurrency systems for individuals participating in armed conflicts on the basis of religious radicalism outside Azerbaijan, including internationally recognized terrorist organizations.
It is reported that in connection with crimes related to terrorism financing committed by these individuals, numerous reliable evidences were obtained regarding the sources of funds collected under the pretext of conducting various religious rituals through fake advertisements posted on social networks, as well as money transfer mechanisms.
It is noted that as a result of operations conducted jointly with special services of other countries, members of a group consisting of individuals involved in financing international terrorism were identified.
According to SSS information, as a result of joint operations with security agencies and special services of other states, a wide circle of individuals belonging to a criminal community consisting of persons residing in various countries and involved in financing international terrorism was identified. As a result of parallel anti-terrorist operations on the territory of five countries, a total of 10 members of the group were detained. One of those detained abroad, Elshan Askerov, was extradited to Azerbaijan.
Members of the criminal group Vugar Abdullayev, Jalal Hajiyev, Javid Aliyev, Nijat Akhmedov, Nazim Aliyev, Ilkin Hasanzade, Ayhan Huseynov, Elshan Askerov, Fahraddin Imanov, Nail Rasulov and Elgun Ismayilov have been held accountable as accused in a criminal case investigated under Articles 214-1, 218.1, 28, 277 (terrorism financing, creation of a criminal community (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 a court decision, a preventive measure in the form of detention was chosen for them.
Currently, investigative and operational measures are ongoing in the criminal case.