BAKU, Azerbaijan - The Baku Court on Grave Crimes sentenced eight defendants to prison terms ranging from 8½ to 13 years in a case involving participation in a terrorist group and financing terrorism.
The trial in the criminal case opened by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service concluded on Oct. 29.
Prison Terms
Vugar Najafli and Jamal Gozalov were each sentenced to 9½ years in prison. Tofig Yusifli and Dadash Hashimov each received 8½ years.
Muhammad Huseynli and Tural Agayev were sentenced to 13 years each. Mushfig Hashimov received 10 years, and Mir Javad Huseynli was sentenced to 12½ years.
Investigators alleged that Najafli, Gozalov, Yusifli and Hashimov left Azerbaijan in 2024 and hid in mountainous areas of Pakistan near the Afghan border.
The State Security Service said they underwent combat training and participated in armed conflicts outside Azerbaijan as members of an international terrorist organization. The service said they were detained abroad in joint operations with foreign intelligence and law-enforcement agencies and returned to Azerbaijan.
Investigators also alleged that Mir Javad Huseynli and Tural Agayev financed the activities of Yusifli and Hashimov. The defendants were prosecuted under provisions of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code covering terrorism financing and participation in armed groups and conflicts abroad, among other charges.
Sources: Azerbaijan State Security Service; AIA; Vesti Baku.