Azerbaijan Reveals New Details on Power Usurpation Attempt, Pointing to Russia

The State Security Service of Azerbaijan has announced that as a result of measures taken to prevent the activities of foreign special services, there are reasonable suspicions against a group of citizens. According to the agency, Ramiz Mehdiyev, Abbas Abbasov, Ali Kerimli, and others are suspected of planning actions to seize power by force and change the constitutional order.

According to the materials of the criminal case, on July 4, 2012, the founders and leaders of an organization registered abroad under the name "Union of Russian-Azerbaijani Organizations," along with a number of political figures, agreed to change state power by force. It is noted that the "National Council of Democratic Forces," created in 2013 and which nominated Rustam Ibrahimbekov as a presidential candidate, allegedly organized mass riots with the support of foreign special services.

Investigative data indicates that members of the organization were instructed to send individuals residing abroad, who were under their influence, to Azerbaijan during the 2013 elections to participate in rallies and riots. Additionally, in 2013, a secret letter addressed to the head of a foreign state was sent by the "National Council," requesting assistance for the organization's activities and exerting pressure on Azerbaijan to implement certain "reforms."

The indictment also states that Ganimat Zairov has been in contact with representatives of foreign special services on behalf of Ali Kerimli since 2013, promising to secure the strategic interests of that country in exchange for support in coming to power. A separate incident refers to plans to seize administrative buildings and declare a power usurpation during a rally held in Baku on the night of July 14-15, 2020.

According to the State Security Service, Ramiz Mehdiyev transferred a document prepared in a foreign language to Ali Kerimli in 2025, while an edited version was sent to senior officials of foreign special services. He has also been charged with state treason and legalizing over 17 million manats obtained through criminal means. Abbas Abbasov, Fuad Ghahramanli, and Ganimat Zairov have been put on the wanted list, and the court has selected remote detention measures against them.