Investigative measures are being carried out in connection with criminal acts aimed at overthrowing state power.
The Press Service of the State Security Service announced this information.
As a result of complex measures taken by the State Security Service to prevent subversive activities against Azerbaijan's security, national interests, and benefits, carried out by foreign intelligence agencies, there are strong suspicions that Azerbaijani citizens - Mehdiyev Ramiz Anvar oglu, Abbasov Abbas Ayidin oglu, Kerimli Ali Amirhuseyn oglu, and others - have engaged in actions aimed at the forceful seizure of power and the forceful alteration of the state's constitutional order.
According to the charges brought against the accused in the criminal case, the co-founders and leaders of the organization registered abroad on July 4, 2012, under the name "Union of Russian Organizations of Azerbaijan" and called "Union of Billionaires," Abbasov Abbas Ayidin oglu and Ibrahimbeyov Rustam Mammad Ibrahim oglu, as well as Mehdiyev Ramiz Anvar oglu, the chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) Kerimli Ali Amirhuseyn oglu, and party members - Gahramanli Fuad Ali oglu, Zayidov Ganimat Salim oglu, and others - conspired to forcefully seize state power and forcefully change the state's existing constitutional order, with the aim of interfering in Azerbaijan's political processes through foreign intelligence agencies.
Specifically, after creating an organization called the "National Council of Democratic Forces" (National Council) in 2013, which nominated foreign citizen Rustam Ibrahimbeyov as a candidate for the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, they, with the financial aid and other forms of organizational support from foreign intelligence agencies, engaged in activities aimed at committing mass riots for the forceful seizure of state power, disobedience to lawful demands of state representatives, disruption of public order, and the work of transport, enterprises, institutions, and organizations. Furthermore, to involve people from various regions of the republic for this purpose, they directed the sum of 933,828.40 manats received through APFP member Ibrahim Mammad Aziz oglu and others, including financial resources obtained from Ramiz Mehdiyev and Abbas Abbasov, towards the commission of the aforementioned acts.
Based on technical evidence attached to the criminal case materials, members of the organization called the "Union of Billionaires" were instructed in their country of residence to send Azerbaijani citizens working under their supervision or otherwise under their patronage to Azerbaijan during the 2013 Presidential elections. They were tasked with ensuring that these individuals, by involving their relatives and close ones in Azerbaijan, participated in rallies and mass riots in accordance with the instructions of the foreign intelligence agency.
It was revealed that as a result of prior negotiations, in accordance with the wishes of authorized officials of the relevant foreign state, a secret letter from the "National Council" addressed to the leadership of this foreign country in 2013 requested support for the council's activities and proposed exerting pressure on the Azerbaijani state to implement "reforms" in Azerbaijan that were being carried out in that country.
According to the mentioned charges, Ganimat Zayidov, from the beginning of 2013, held secret negotiations with representatives of foreign intelligence agencies on behalf of Ali Kerimli, requesting the extensive organizational and special capabilities of foreign intelligence agencies to bring him to power in Azerbaijan. In return, he promised to ensure the strategic interests of the foreign state in Azerbaijan, detailing specific points. Furthermore, the parties agreed that if Ali Kerimli came to power, Azerbaijan would gradually become a full member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
Simultaneously, according to the charges, Ali Kerimli, continuing the criminal acts in accordance with the prior general agreement with the aforementioned individuals, gave instructions to Fuad Gahramanli and others to form small groups representing the party and join the march participants during the march held in Baku on the night of July 14-15, 2020, against Armenia's aggressive war in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and in support of the army. The instructions were to then replace patriotic slogans with provocative calls, create a chaotic situation, and exploit this situation to seize administrative buildings of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan and the "Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting" CJSC, including declaring the seizure of power through mass media.
In addition, Ramiz Mehdiyev, by September 2025, prepared a written material in a foreign language titled "Proposals for the Reconstruction of the State Management System," containing secret plans and directions of activity against state power. Through his assistant Amirov Eldar Gurban oglu and others, he presented this material to Ali Kerimli on September 27, 2025, for joint coordination of the issues outlined in the document. On October 3, 2025, he sent the final edited version of the aforementioned writing to high-ranking officials of the foreign state's intelligence agencies, with whom he had previously personally contacted, through employees of "Sharq-Qərb" CJSC, which he effectively owned. This transmission was technically recorded.
With these actions, Ramiz Mehdiyev engaged in acts aimed at the seizure of state power with the help of foreign intelligence agencies and the forceful alteration of the constitutional order, and committed treason against the state by providing assistance to representatives of a foreign state that was contrary to Azerbaijan's state security interests.
Furthermore, Ramiz Mehdiyev legalized over 17,000,000 manats in funds obtained through criminal means by October 13, 2025.
For their participation in the aforementioned criminal acts, Abbas Abbasov, Ali Kerimli, Fuad Gahramanli, Mammad Ibrahim, and Ganimat Zayidov have been charged as defendants under Articles 278.1 (actions aimed at the forceful seizure or retention of power, as well as the forceful alteration of the state's constitutional order), Eldar Amirov under Articles 32.5 and 278.1 (aiding and abetting actions aimed at the forceful seizure or retention of power, as well as the forceful alteration of the state's constitutional order), Ramiz Mehdiyev under Articles 193-1.3.2 (legalization of property obtained through criminal means in a significant amount), 274 (treason), and 278.1.
Since Abbas Abbasov, Fuad Gahramanli, and Ganimat Zayidov are outside the territory of Azerbaijan and are in hiding from the investigation, a search has been declared for them, and a court has issued an arrest warrant in absentia.
Investigations into the criminal case are ongoing.