Azerbaijan detains citizens for fighting in Ukraine war

Azerbaijan has brought criminal charges against its citizens who took part in the ongoing fighting between Russia and Ukraine as members of illegal armed groups, the State Security Service (SSS) said.

The agency said operational and investigative measures are continuing to identify Azerbaijani citizens who participated in armed conflicts abroad as part of formations not предусмотрed by national legislation.

According to the SSS, a significant number of Azerbaijani citizens have taken part in the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. Many have been killed, gone missing or wounded, while some are known to be held in captivity.

Investigators established that Azerbaijani citizens Real Nabiyev (born 1991), Faris Huseynov (born 1993), Ali Mammadov and Murad Mirgashimli (born 1994) took part in combat operations under the control of armed formations of Russia and Ukraine. They were detained in January 2026 and charged. A court ordered their pre-trial detention.

The SSS reiterated that participation by Azerbaijani citizens in such armed conflicts carries criminal liability and that prosecution for crimes committed abroad will be ensured in accordance with national law.