TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 20 2007

No Threat of Vahhabism in Azerbaijan: Deputy Interior Minister

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend I. Alizade / Criminal situation is
under control in Azerbaijan and there is no threat of Vahhabism in
the country, Deputy minister of Internal Affairs, General Vilayat
Eyvazovm said during the talks with journlists on 19 October.

According to Deputy Intreior Minister, generally 20,000 crimes are
comitted in Azerbaijan a year. It means that every 100,000 people
commit from 200 to 220 crimes. This indicator is higher in
neighbouring countries. Thus, every 100,000 people perpetrates 300
crimes in Armenia and Georgia. It exceeds 600 In Ukraine and 2,000 in
Russia.

There is no tension and threat to the statehood in Azerbaijan,
Eyvazov stated. `A criminal showed armed resistance to police in
Gusar during the arrest and ran away. Necessary measures were taken
for his arrest, posts were organized in this area, and the Interior
Ministry and other law enforcement agencies are in search of the
criminal,’ he said.

According to Eyvazov, the measures were outlined in Zakatala District
in advance and carried out in accordance with the minister’s
instruction. `In accordance with the minister’s instructions,
training is being conducted in the regions. During the training the
arrest of armed criminals and security in the roads are studied.

According to the deputy minister, an armed attack was made today [19
October] on the ABU Petrol filling station. No one injured, but
criminals stole some $1,500 from the cash desk of the filling
station. `We already have information about them and measures are
taken for their arrest’.

On 19 October five mask-worn men committed an armed attack on ABU
Petrol filling station, which is located in Mushfig village of
Absheron region.