A former soldier and a civilian arrested in Armenia for espionage in favor of Azerbaijan

Baku/07.06.21/Turan: The National Security Service of Armenia announced today the arrest of A former military officer and a civilian for espionage in favor of  Azerbaijan. The accused were recruited by the Azerbaijani intelligence service in Turkey and transmitted data on the Armenian Armed Forces and deployment of troops and equipment in Armenia and Karabakh to the enemy, the report says.

According to the same source, the arrested persons signed a written document at the Azerbaijani embassy in a third country agreeing to collaborate with Azerbaijan in exchange for money.

The accused handed over photos, videos and other materials to the Azerbaijani side, including information about strategic objects and troops movement during the Second Karabakh War. The information was transmitted via a special application to Turkish numbers.

During the war, one of them was the commander of a volunteer detachment in Hadrut and transmitted information to the enemy until the end of October 2020, including videos and photos of the location of air defense systems, missile systems, armored vehicles, combat positions, and military units.

This caused serious damage to the Armenian Armed Forces enabling Azerbaijan to strike and disable army units, military equipment and manpower, break through the defense line in the south and advance deep into Nagorno-Karabakh, the report says.

Another member of the group, according to the NSS, was engaged in collecting information in the rear, transmitting accurate data on the location of an anti-aircraft missile system in the deep rear thus allowing the enemy to destroy it with a drone.

The arrested persons gave confessions. Searches revealed and seaized special communications equipment, video recordings, other evidence, the NSS of Armenia stated.

Note that names of those arrested were not disclosed. It ought to be noted that this is the 4th case of the disclosure of Azerbaijani agents in Armenia after the Second Karabakh war.-02D-