Security: Arrest of a Military Expert, Allegation of Smuggling 70 kg of Gold, and Reasons for Closed Land Borders

The head of the Civil Defense Headquarters under the Public Health and Reforms Center of the Ministry of Health, Adalat Verdiyev, has been arrested. Adalat Verdiyev, a reserve officer and military expert, is accused of disseminating military information considered a state secret, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The statement from the Prosecutor General's Office indicates that on November 22, a media visit to the liberated territories was organized, in which Adalat Verdiyev participated as a military expert. It is alleged that during this visit, he recorded videos of strategic military locations, such as the deployment of Armed Forces and Border Troops, along with their coordinates and operational conditions, later sharing this footage on his social media accounts.

A few days earlier, Azerbaijan's military attaché in Saudi Arabia, Qahraman Mammadov, was reportedly apprehended in Istanbul with 70 kilograms of gold. He was brought to Baku, where a criminal case was initiated against him under Articles 12.1, 206.3.2, 206.3.3 (smuggling by an organized group or using an official position), and 341.1 (abuse of official powers) of the Criminal Code. The investigation is being conducted by the Main Investigation Department of the State Security Service.

During the November 25 session of the Milli Majlis, Zahid Oruj, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, stated that reopening the land borders could result in the influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees into the country.

Security expert Ilham Ismayil provided insights on these developments to ASTNA.

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Question: Mr. Ismayil, the Prosecutor General's Office stated that Adalat Verdiyev, head of the Civil Defense Headquarters and military expert, was arrested for disseminating military information considered a state secret. Verdiyev was known as someone who often defended state interests and, at times, government policies. Why do you think his arrest has caused such surprise and suspicion?

Answer: The Prosecutor General’s statement mentioned that Verdiyev’s actions caused "significant harm to the country's state security and defense interests." I am not familiar with the specific information he disseminated. However, it’s noted that Verdiyev shared materials on social media about the location and coordinates of military positions. This is regrettable. I believe Verdiyev’s intention was not to disclose classified information but may have been driven by personal ambition—perhaps to showcase his access to exclusive information. The investigation is ongoing, and any definitive conclusions should wait until it is completed.

Question: Recently, political commentator Nezaket Mammadova was sentenced to 13 years for treason. Now Verdiyev is accused of revealing state secrets. Is there a pattern here? Could the government be orchestrating operations against its own allies?

Answer: When it comes to state security, whether someone supports the government or opposes it is irrelevant. There have been cases of high-ranking officials being convicted of treason in the past. Mammadova’s actions in service of Russian interests were fully proven. I do not see a direct parallel between these cases.

Question: A few days ago, Azerbaijan’s military attaché in Saudi Arabia, Qahraman Mammadov, was allegedly caught with 70 kilograms of gold in Istanbul. This is yet another case involving Azerbaijani officials and smuggling scandals. What does this indicate?

Answer: Unfortunately, there are strong suspicions that the individual abused diplomatic privileges for smuggling. The investigation will clarify whether this was a solo act or part of an organized effort.

Question: What steps should the government take to prevent such incidents?

Answer: The recent arrests can be seen as preventive measures by the state. Educational discussions and awareness campaigns, particularly with media personnel, could also help prevent similar incidents in the future.

Question: Zahid Oruj stated that reopening the land borders might lead to an influx of refugees. Is this the real reason for keeping the borders closed?

Answer: While the initial closure of land borders was pandemic-related, the growing tensions in neighboring countries—namely, Russia and Iran—raise the risk of a massive influx of refugees into Azerbaijan. The Ruso-Ukrainian war and Iran-Israel tensions could exacerbate this situation, potentially leading to uncontrollable challenges for Azerbaijan.

Question: But neighboring countries have reopened their land borders. Why is this not a concern for them as it is for Azerbaijan?

Answer: Azerbaijan faces a higher likelihood of refugee inflows compared to its neighbors. For example, during the early stages of the Ukraine war, many people from Russia arrived in Azerbaijan. The temporary closure of land borders is a precautionary measure tied to national security considerations.