Azerbaijan detains citizens over participation in Russia–Ukraine war

Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS) said it has detained several Azerbaijani nationals accused of taking part in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, warning that participation in foreign armed conflicts carries criminal liability under Azerbaijani law.

In a statement released by the SSS, the agency said it is continuing “operational-investigative measures to identify and hold legally responsible nationals of the Republic of Azerbaijan participating in military conflicts outside of the country as part of armed formations, in violation of national legislation,” Caliber.Az reports. 

According to the statement, authorities determined that “over the past period, a significant number of nationals of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been killed, gone missing, injured, or are currently being held in captivity” after taking part in the Russia–Ukraine conflict.

The SSS said its investigation found that four Azerbaijani citizens — Nabiyev Real Eldaniz oglu (born 1991), Huseynov Faris Famil oglu (born 1993), Mammadov Ali Elnur oglu (born 1994), and Mirhashimli Murov Hasan oglu (born 1994) — had participated in combat operations “under the control of the armed forces of Russia and Ukraine.”

“As a result, these individuals were detained in January 2026 and brought to criminal responsibility,” the statement said, adding that a court had ordered their pre-trial detention as a preventive measure.

The SSS emphasised that involvement in foreign armed conflicts constitutes a criminal offense under Azerbaijani law. 

“Participation in such armed conflicts creates criminal liability in the Republic of Azerbaijan,” the agency said, adding that authorities will continue to enforce legal responsibility for citizens who commit related offenses abroad “in accordance with the law.”

By Sabina Mammadli