Law enforcement bodies investigate "Salamnews" and "Interaz" management's links with Iran

Baku/01.02.23/Turan: An employee of "Salamnews.org," who was responsible for financial matters, was detained in Baku on 31 January during operational actions taken by the police. At the same time the founder of the website Matlab Bagirov, better known as Haji Matlab, was detained in Russia.

The Turan News Agency has learned about this from unofficial sources.

Despite promises by the Interior Ministry, no official report has been published on the subject. In the meantime, pro-government media had time to announce the disclosure and arrest of an "Iranian spy network".

On January 31, the number of "spies" was 7; on February 1, there were 39 of them.

The Interior Ministry press service confirmed the fact of detention of 39 people. However, they did not say whether any criminal proceedings had been initiated, and if there were those arrested, what court ruled and exactly what articles of the Criminal Code were charged?

At that, the State Security Service that is supposed to fight against spies is keeping silence and it is unclear why the police have taken over this function.

In any case, it is clear that the authorities have set out to neutralise pro-Iranian structures and individuals. Apparently, this is only the beginning.

As for the websites "İnteraz" and "Salamnews.org," they were originally registered in Russia.

In 2016, these resources were bought by Matlab Bagirov, who had previously received religious education in Iran and Syria. In Baku, their offices are in the same building in the Yasamal district.

TV programmes of these resources are broadcast via the Turkish satellite "Türksat". Religious propagandists and supporters of the Iranian regime are frequent guests on the programmes.

In 2017, "Salamnews" announced the launch of a Persian-language version of the news, but this never happened. -02В-