Azerbaijani National Arrested by FSB for Alleged Bomb Plot Linked to Ukrainian Terrorism

On Monday, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported the detention of an Azerbaijani national who is alleged to have been involved in plans to attack law enforcement facilities in the Stavropol region on behalf of Ukraine.

According to the FSB, the suspect had affiliated himself with an unnamed Ukrainian «terrorist organization» and had been observing potential targets in the cities of Stavropol and Yessentuki.

A video circulated by state media depicted FSB operatives apprehending the individual during the daytime and interrogating him, during which he allegedly admitted to preparing an explosive device. He claimed to have bought components for a bomb and concealed them in a field.

In their statement, the FSB asserted that the suspect intended to utilize «skills gained from his service in the special forces of Azerbaijan’s military.»

The formal tone of the man’s confession raised suspicions that it might have been scripted. It was not immediately possible to authenticate the FSB’s statements or determine if the confession was given under coercion.

Subsequent footage from the FSB showed the individual guiding agents to the hidden bomb materials. Following this, he was transported to a court.

A judge subsequently ordered that he remain in pre-trial detention until November 5. The FSB has charged him with planning a terrorist act.

State media indicated that the Azerbaijani man had pledged allegiance to a Ukrainian «national liberation battalion,» although this detail was not mentioned in the FSB’s announcement.

This arrest comes at a time of escalating tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia. In June, two Azerbaijani individuals died during mass detentions by police in Yekaterinburg, prompting Baku to accuse Russian authorities of torture and murder.

Since then, Azerbaijan has canceled Russian cultural events, raided the offices of the Kremlin-backed Sputnik news agency, and detained several Russian citizens on charges related to organized crime.