Azerbaijan thwarts terror plots and crypto funding ring

Azerbaijan's State Security Service (DTX) has uncovered and disrupted a criminal network involving domestic and foreign nationals engaged in covert organizing, plotting targeted assassinations, and financing international terrorism.

Investigators established that Vuqar Abdullayev, previously convicted over ties to the "Sumgayit Jamaat" extremist cell, conspired with local associates to assassinate prominent Azerbaijani public and religious figures. The suspects tracked the movement routes and personal protection details of their targets, planning to flee to foreign conflict zones following the attacks.

Concurrently, operative findings revealed the cell routed funding to international terrorist entities operating in conflict theaters via cryptocurrency channels and deceptive charity drives on social networks. Working alongside foreign intelligence agencies, authorities carried out synchronized operations across five nations, detaining 10 network members; one operative, Elshan Asgarov, was extradited to Azerbaijan. All identified conspirators have been placed in pre-trial detention on terrorism, racketeering, and conspiracy charges.

N.Tebrizli