As a result of a counter-intelligence operation conducted by the Azerbaijani Security Services, a spy network in the country has been uncovered, an official statement published on the Security Services’
website
states.
A man named Mukhtar Yagubov was arrested arrested during the operation.
According to the statement, Yagubov tried to extract information collected by the Security Servicies on USB drives in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and he was arrested while attempting to leave the country.
A criminal case was filed under article 274 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
“Betrayal of the state, that is deliberately committed by a citizen of the Azerbaijan Republic to the detriment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, state security or defensibility of the Azerbaijan Republic: changeover to enemy side, espionage, distribution of state secrets to a foreign state, rendering assistance to a foreign state, foreign organization or their representatives in realization of hostile activity against the Azerbaijan Republic”, the article states.
This article provides for a prison term of up to fifteen years or life imprisonment.
Several other members of the spy network were discovered during the investigations carried out within the criminal case. These include Azerbaijani citizens Mukhtar Yagubov, Shakir Ahmadov, Zeka Zeynalli, Sabuhi Abbaszade, Khudashukur Nuriyev and Kamaladdin Huseynov.
All were put in pre-trial detention.
“The correspondence with foreign special services was revealed during investigative operations. The spy network also tried to influence officials, public figures and other circles in Azerbaijan. The activity was carried out on behalf of foreign special services. Members of the spy network also tried to collect confidential information about the activity of the Azerbaijani security bodies, the armed forces and security measures which are being carried out in the country”, the official statement reads.
The investigation is still underway.
