Baku court tries two Azerbaijanis accused of fighting for Wagner

The Baku-based Sabail District Court has held a trial concerning a criminal case involving Ramil Ramiz oglu Aliyev (born 1991) and Ismayil Buludkhan oglu Hasanov (born 1974).

The materials of the case under investigation by the State Security Service indicate that they were detained by the State Security Service on suspicion of committing various criminal acts both in Azerbaijan and abroad, Caliber.Az reports.

Having been convicted of intentional murder and other serious and especially serious crimes against persons, and while serving sentences in correctional facilities abroad, they were personally recruited by the leader of the armed formation "Wagner," Yevgeny Prigozhin. They escaped serving their punishments and participated in military operations for payment.

According to the case files, the detainees are suspected of participating in combat operations involving firearms and explosives in different countries, as well as recruiting other Azerbaijani citizens to take part in these operations.

Ramil Aliyev and Ismail Hasanov have been placed under arrest for four months as a preventive measure.

The Wagner Group is a private military company (PMC) widely reported to be linked to the Russian government, although it officially operates as a private entity. Founded around 2014 by Dmitry Utkin, a former Russian military intelligence officer, Wagner has been involved in numerous conflicts where Russian interests are prominent.

The group gained international attention for its role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where it supported separatist forces. Since then, Wagner operatives have been active in several countries, including Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, Sudan, and Mali. They often participate in combat operations, provide military training, and protect strategic assets like oil fields and mining operations.

By Khagan Isayev