Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 16/ Trend , K. Zarbaliyeva/ The Azerbaijani National Security Ministry has exposed and detained radical religious gang composed of Azerbaijani citizens. The group, who was linked with the international terrorisms network, was planning to commit illegal acts to undermine stability and to hinder secular and democratic development in Azerbaijan.
Members of the armed gang purchased, smuggled, conveyed and stored firearms and explosive substances, as well as committed acts of terrorism, robbery and other crimes in the country, the National Security Ministry Public Relations Office told Trend on Feb. 16. The members assisted Samir Mehdiyen with Suleyman nickname, who was one of members of the Mesha Gardashlari (Forest Brothers) armed gang and charged of act of terrorism at the Abu Bakr Mosque on Aug. 17, 2008, to avoid investigation in Azerbaijan and hide in other country.
The members of the gang, including Amil Khalilov and Ibadat Alazovi were arrested.
It was revealed that under an order of the gang leader Azar Misirkhanov with Abdulla nickname, the gang member Faig Jafarov came to the Tovuz region together with suspected Samir Mehdiyev in September 2008 and handed him over Ibadat Alazovi there.
Alazovi illegally took Mehdiyev across Azerbaijan's Jandargol area to a foreign country.
In September and November 2008, Alazovi jointly with Amil Khalilov smuggled great amount of firearms, including grenade launchers, submachine gun and pistols, as well as grenades and other ammunition to Azerbaijan by Khalilov's car and handed them over Jafarov in the Balakan region.
The Ministry has seized three plastids or so-called "kamikaze belt" containing 5 kilograms of explosives, one TNT of 200 grams, two RPQ-7 hand grenade and 5 shells, two Mukha hand grenades, 7 AKS guns, two AKSU guns, one UZI guns, 1 EAGLE gun, three Makarov revolvers, one Magnum revolver, one Umarex revolver, one Sig Sauer revolver, one Fort-14 revolver and a gun silencer, one Winchester gun, 57 different types of guns and cartridge clips, 60 electric detonators, 22 explosive remote control, 22 explosive remote controls, 12 F-1 handmade grenades, 11 RQD-5 handmade grenades, 5 foreign-produced handmade grenade, 25 grenade launchers, 12 capsules for detonator, 20 KENWOOD radio stations, 10 signal rockets, 1 clockwork meant for explosive, one compass and bullets of various length and other ammunition.
The National Security Ministry's Central Investigation Office has filed a case on Article 279.1 (organizing illegal armed groups) of Penal Code, Article 29. 214.2.1 (an attempt of terrorism by a group of people), Article 29.214.2.3 (an attempt of terrorism by using fire arms), Article 29.228.2.1 (acquisition, transfer and storage of fire arms by an armed group), Article 229.1 (preparing fire arm, ammunition and explosives), Article 181.2., 181.2.5 (robbery), Article 206.3.2 (arms smuggling) and Article 234.1 (acquisition and storage of drugs for non-sale purposes ).
According to the National Security Ministry, Ilgar Mollachiyev and Mehdiyev planned to resume Mesha Gardashlari gang's activity, form illegal military units in the country's northern regions and commit acts of terrorism to violate public and political order in Azerbaijan. The Ministry implemented a special operation to prevent these criminal intentions. As a result of this operation, 13 criminals were detained and sentenced.
It was revealed that Mesha Gardashlari gang committed a blast at the Abu Bakr Mosque in Baku on Aug. 17.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at [email protected]