Criminal Case Initiated over Turkey and Azerbaijan Financing Terrorists for Participation in Artsakh War

On September 27, 2020, following the aggressive war unleashed by the military-political leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh, a criminal case was initiated. During the investigation, data were obtained indicating that Azerbaijan recruited and utilized mercenaries from various terrorist groups, specifically incentivized for their involvement, with the intention of conducting international terrorism aimed at destabilizing the internal situation of foreign countries. These actions included the organization and execution of explosions, arson, and similar activities, resulting in the ongoing destruction of lives, buildings, infrastructure, communication means, and other property.

As a result of operational and investigative actions taken within the framework of the ongoing criminal case regarding international terrorism—which was merged with the case of Azerbaijan's aggressive war against Artsakh—it has been established that during July and August 2020, the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan planned to undertake acts of aggression against the Republic of Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia. Consequently, responsible officials in the armed forces of Azerbaijan reached preliminary agreements with their counterparts in the Republic of Turkey to reinforce their ranks with mercenaries from international terrorist groups.

To implement this agreement, which included committing acts of terrorism in the territories of Artsakh and Armenia, responsible officials of the military-political leadership of Turkey provided financial resources, as well as weapons and ammunition, to international terrorist groups such as 'Sultan Suleiman Shah/Al Amshat', 'Sukur', 'Al Hamzat', and 'Sultan Murad'. These groups were involved in the selection of terrorist mercenaries and facilitated their unobstructed passage across the state borders of Syria and Turkey, first into Turkey and then into Azerbaijan.

From September 27, 2020, members of these groups, exceeding two thousand militants, actively participated in coordinated and targeted military operations against Artsakh, which had been previously planned.

Based on these developments, a new criminal case regarding the financing of terrorism was initiated at the Military Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Armenia, under the framework of Article 217.1, part 2 of the RA Criminal Code. The case has been forwarded to the Investigative Committee of Armenia for further investigation.

Simultaneously, in line with international treaties related to the prohibition of terrorism and the financing of terrorism, existing mechanisms for international legal cooperation will be invoked to uncover those responsible for the mentioned crimes and to enforce internationally recognized legal consequences for these offenses.