Azeri court sentences three servicemen for Armenian conspiracy in October 2005

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
18 Mar 06

[Presenter] Counter-intelligence measures have established that a
junior warrant officer of a military unit of the Azerbaijani Defence
Ministry, Ruslan Bakirov, 21, who was in Armenian captivity from 15
February to 7 May last year, was involved in secret collaboration
with Armenia’s special services. It was also identified that Bakirov,
a conscript from the Samkir District conscription office, received
instructions from Armenia to commit terrorist acts, the public
relations department of the Azerbaijani National Security Ministry
has said.

[Correspondent, over video of Bakirov, archive footage] Ruslan
Bakirov was deceived by the Armenians together with his subordinate
privates, Xayal Abdullayev, 20, and Hikmat Tagiyev, 23, into
committing high treason by deserting into the enemy side while
standing on duty. Immediately after being released with the help of
the International Committee of the Red Cross, Ruslan Bakirov admitted
that he had been involved in secret collaboration with the Armenians.
However, measures later proved that his confession was part of the plan
prepared by the Armenian special services. The serviceman voluntarily
unveiled the truth following counter-intelligence measures.

It became known that the Armenian special services worked purposefully
to collaborate with Ruslan Bakirov, Xayal Abdullayev and Hikmat
Tagiyev. Seven meetings were held with Ruslan Bakirov, who confirmed
his secret collaboration in writing and on a video recording. They
gave him the nickname Ramin, agreed on communication methods and
promised to give him a reward of 3,000-4,000 dollars for carrying out
every assignment. An employee of the Armenian special services, who
introduced himself as Rudik, briefed Ruslan Bakirov on his activities
after returning to Azerbaijan. One of Bakirov’s main targets would
be the Azerbaijani president.

[Ruslan Bakirov] They told me to go and check along which route the
presidential motorcade moves, mine the road and explode it.

[Correspondent] Bakirov would also carry out explosions on the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline [carrying Caspian oil to world
markets], gas pipes, at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, photograph
different strategic installations and send the images to Armenia.

The prosecution has proven all the charges. The Military Court on
Grave Crimes on 7 October 2005 ruled to sentence Ruslan Bakirov and
Xayal Abdullayev to 12 years and Hikmat Tagiyev to 11 years in prison.

Irada Mammadova for “Son Xabar” [programme].