Baku court jails man for 12 years over plot to attack local, foreign officials

A Baku court on Tuesday sentenced Elshan Najafov to 12 years in prison for allegedly plotting terrorist attacks against Azerbaijani and foreign officials, local media reported.

Najafov was detained in September 2023 in a special operation by the State Security Service. Prosecutors said he conspired with an Azerbaijani citizen living abroad to carry out attacks at public events.

He was charged with attempted assassination, public calls for terrorism, and distribution of extremist material, among other offences.

The court heard audio messages in which Najafov intended to commit the crimes. He will serve his sentence in a high-security facility.

N.Tebrizli