Azerbaijani special services accuse journalist Mirkadirov of transferring military secrets to Armenian NGOs

The General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) and the Ministry of National Security (MNS) of Azerbaijan have revealed details of the criminal case initiated against the journalist Rauf Mirkadirov. They assert that they have grounds to prosecute Mirkadirov for collaborating with the secret police of Armenia and providing it with the information prejudicial to national security of Azerbaijan. The defence of the journalist, who rejects all the charges, is preparing a counter-claim.

According to the joint statement of the press services of the GPO and MNS, investigators have revealed that back in 2008 Mirkadirov established cooperation with the Research Centre "Region", where Laura Bagdasaryan is the head.

"This centre that operates under the control of special services of Armenia used to invite, with the assistance of various foundations, representatives of Azerbaijani NGOs and mass media, notable for their specific political views, to various conferences organized in third countries," the joint statement further reads.

The document also states that in 2002 the Armenian Research Centre "Region" established, under the guise of journalistic activities, relations with the Azerbaijani "Institute for Peace and Democracy" headed by Leyla Yunus "with the aim to recruit persons for foreign intelligence by attracting them materially from the funds received as grants from international donors."