Azerbaijan detains foreign intelligence recruiter "Abu Malik"

Azerbaijani authorities have detained a citizen accused of collaborating with foreign intelligence services and facilitating arrests of fellow nationals abroad.

The individual, identified as Mahammad Aliyev Shirin oglu, had allegedly operated under the alias "Abu Malik" since September 2022, according to court documents revealed during a July 18 hearing, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

According to Azerbaijan's State Security Service (SSS), Aliyev was working with foreign agencies to recruit Azerbaijani citizens for cooperation. Those who refused were handed over to foreign authorities.

Aliyev is also accused of attempting to establish a terrorist and subversive group composed of individuals associated with radical religious sects. However, the SSS said he was ultimately apprehended during an undercover counter-terrorism operation.

The Sabail District Court has charged Aliyev with high treason under Article 274 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. He has been placed in pre-trial detention for a period of four months while the investigation continues.