Azerbaijan, Shaki, 5 September/ Trend , corr E. Guliyev/ The interior forces of Azerbaijan have launched operations in north-west Zaqatala and Balakan regions of Azerbaijan to render harmless wanted members of Meshe Gardashlari (Forest Brothers) grouping.
The operation was launched today morning, correspondent of Trend said quoting local residents as saying.
Several days ago, the interior forces conducted operations to render harmless members of Meshe Gardashlari organization which functions illegally in Qusar region of Azerbaijan.
An armed incident took place between soldiers of the interior forces and that of organization which killed soldier Ali Yolchuyev.
Defense Ministry said Ilgar Mollachiyev and Samir Mehdiyev planned to re-establish the activity of armed union 'Meshe Gardashlari', create illegal armed unions in north regions of Azerbaijan and commit acts of terror to disturb public-political stability in Azerbaijan in general. The Ministry of National Security has carried out a special operation to prevent these criminal intentions. As a result of urgent measures, 13 people were arrested and made criminally responsible. Many fire-arms, military supplies, explosive materials, various maps etc. belonging to them have been revealed and withdrawn.
It turned out that it was Forest Brothers who committed blast in Abu Bakr mosque in Baku on 17 August.
The blas killed 2 and wounded 18.
According to the plan of Mollachiyev and Mehdiyev, the members of the first group 'Sumgayit Camaati' ("Sumgayit Community"), which is part of 'Meshe Gardashlari', had to commit robberies in Baku, provide arm and supplies due to obtained money, commit acts of terror, and the second group "Guba ve Gusar Camaati" had to create military camps in the mountain and forest area of the Republic. For this purpose, special shelters had already been created in Guba and Gusar districts of Azerbaijan, arms and military supplies were obtained and food supplies were provided.
Already in 2007, the Ministry of National Security rendered harmless the armed union 'Meshe Gardashlari' arrested its 17 members, including one of its leaders, Naif Abdulkarim Al-Bedevi with nickname 'Abu Jafar' and sentenced to prison for certain periods according to the judgment of the court. And criminal prosecution was continued with regards to one of the leader of the armed union Ilgar Mollachiyev, his brother-in-law Samir Mehdiyev and others.
The press service of the Interior Forces did not confirm launching of new operations in Zaqatala and Balakan.
The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]