Why is there a need for the representatives of the State Security Service in foreign states and international organizations?

On December 28, the President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree “On the appointment of representatives of the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan in foreign states and international organizations and ensuring activities." According to the Decree, the head of the State Security Service (SSS) was granted the right to appoint, in agreement with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, within the approved staffing level, representatives of the SSS in the field of combating international terrorism, transnational organized crime and cybercrime, as well as in foreign states and international organizations representing a special importance.

What is the need to appoint representatives of the State Security Service in foreign states and international organizations?

Security expert Ilham Ismail answers ASTNA questions.

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Question: On December 28, the President signed the Decree "On the appointment of representatives of the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan in foreign states and international organizations and ensuring their activities." What is his goal?

Answer:  In the activities of special services there is such a thing as "operational conditions". When new factors are discovered in the course of monitoring the existing operational conditions in connection with security, both inside and outside the country, the emergence of “new operational conditions” is consolidated, and control over the new operational conditions necessitates a new set of security measures.

The decree states that empowering the State Security Service to appoint representatives in foreign states and international organizations to increase the effectiveness of the fight against "international terrorism, transnational organized crime and cybercrime" indicates the creation of new operational conditions in these areas. Measures to combat such crimes make the fight more effective no longer within the country, but precisely in those foreign states in which they are located.

Azerbaijan has joined the Russian International Affairs Council  (RIAC) in the fight against terrorism and is closely cooperating with foreign countries. It is known that Azerbaijan itself is one of the targets of international terrorism. In recent years, we have repeatedly witnessed threats from a radical group against Azerbaijan. It is known that in recent years the migration of Azerbaijani citizens to foreign countries has expanded. The Iranian secret services involve our compatriots living abroad, especially in Russia and some European countries, through the madhhab (theological and legal school - ed. note) and train them against Azerbaijan. Iranian religious organizations were also behind the attack on our embassy in the UK.

At the same time, Armenian organizations call for actions abroad against the Azerbaijani embassy and foreign diplomats. The attack on our embassy in France organized by Armenian nationalists last year is a signal for such activity. There are even cases of infection on Armenian TV channels, which for this purpose it is important to use the football practice of Turkish diplomats in the 70s.

 In a globalizing world, transnational organized crime is on the rise. The implementation of criminal organizations, illegal operations, depends on the movement of information, money, physical objects, people, other tangible and intangible coverage across the borders, already influencing and influencing Azerbaijan. Our country most often faces the cases such as corruption, initiation, and money laundering precisely abroad. If we keep in mind that a month ago, the State Security Service was still in full swing to carry out banking operations at the expense of means of control and the export of funds from the country. Recently, information is being increasingly consumed that officials become objects of real estate and business in foreign countries. The movement of dirty money for transportation, both in cash and through banking transactions, is a necessity for the security of the country. Without going into too much detail, we can say that the identification and return to the country of the rich who have settled abroad is a requirement of the investigation of the day, and so that the State Security Service carry out its activities on the spot - abroad, it is necessary that its employees be represented in the registration their corps and international organizations.

Cybercrime is also considered the technological organized crime of our time, and Azerbaijan joined the "Budapest expediency against cybercrime" back in 2001. The main goal of the State Security Service is the use of cyberterrorism directed against Azerbaijan from abroad, and cases of using cyberspace during their use.

Question: Everyone knows that a member of the secret services is always present in Azerbaijani embassies abroad. In addition, the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) of the Republic of Azerbaijan is in foreign countries. Why were representatives of the State Security Service needed in foreign countries and international organizations?

Answer: Employees who dealt with security issues were also involved in the presence, but experience shows that this is not enough, and additional specialists are required. The functions of the FIS officers are different. They face other security issues, and when necessary, they arise in the case. The function of the State Security Service is counterintelligence, they play this job more professionally.

Question: Perhaps this step was taken to prevent attacks on Azerbaijani embassies abroad. But we know that the Azerbaijani authorities are taking steps against foreign activists to silence them. Can the appointment of representatives of the State Security Service in foreign states and international organizations also serve this purpose?

Answer: Political immigrants operating abroad are under the full protection and protection of the states in which they receive asylum. If the Azerbaijani state takes such a step against them, if the involvement of the SSS officers operating in this state is proven, then this will first of all be a big blow to the international image of Azerbaijan, and this employee (s) may be deported. Can you imagine what kind of scandal between the two countries would have been caused by the actions of an SSS officer aimed at silencing some political emigrant or activist, or at least trying to do so? Does the Azerbaijani state need it? Didn't the attempt on the life of a Russian political immigrant in England bring relations between the two countries to a crisis? Now no one is acting by Stalin's methods, no one will send Mercader to South America to eliminate Trotsky. This Decree has nothing to do with political immigrants, bloggers operating abroad.