Karimli and Mehdiyev are accused of attempting a coup in Azerbaijan.

The State Security Service of Azerbaijan announced the uncovering of a conspiracy against the country's authorities involving former high-ranking officials and members of the Azerbaijani opposition. Among the defendants in the case are former head of the presidential administration Ramiz Mehdiyev and PFPA leader Ali Karimli.

As reported by Caucasian Knot, on November 29, 2025, State Security Service officers detained Ali Karimli and his advisor, Mammad Ibrahim, a member of the Presidium of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA). Both opposition figures were arrested for 2.5 months, until February 13. Karimli is charged under Article 278.1 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan (actions aimed at the violent seizure of power or the violent change of the constitutional order of the state). He denied the charges and called his criminal case political persecution.

The State Security Service (SSS) of Azerbaijan today issued a statement "on investigative measures in connection with criminal acts directed against state power."

"As a result of comprehensive measures taken by the SSS to prevent provocative and destructive actions by foreign intelligence agencies against the security and national interests of Azerbaijan, reasonable suspicions arose that citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan - Mehdiyev Ramiz Enver oglu (former head of the presidential administration of Azerbaijan), Abbas Abbas Aydin oglu (former first vice-premier of the government of Azerbaijan), Karimli Ali Amirhuseyn oglu (chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan) and others have committed acts aimed at the violent seizure of power and the violent change of the constitutional order of the state," the statement said. press release.

The investigation established that the co-founders and leaders of the Union of Azerbaijani Organizations of Russia, registered "in a foreign state on July 4, 2012" under the name "Union of Billionaires," Abbas Abbasov and Rustam Ibragimbekov (now deceased), as well as Ramiz Mehdiyev, the head of the Popular Front Party of Russia, Kerimli Ali Amirhuseyn oglu, members of this party - Fuad Gahramanli and Ganimat Zayidov, and others, conspired to seize power. 

The organization created by the aforementioned persons called the "National Council of Democratic Forces" ("National Council"), nominated a foreign citizen Rustam Ibragimbekov (he had Russian citizenship - note by "Caucasian Knot") as a candidate in the presidential elections of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2013.

The defendants in the case are accused of carrying out, "with the financial assistance and other organizational support of foreign intelligence agencies," activities "aimed at organizing mass unrest with the purpose of forcibly seizing "state authority, disobedience to the lawful demands of government representatives, violation of public order and disruption of the operation of transport, enterprises, departments and organizations." Through PFPA member Mammad Ibrahim and other individuals, Mehdiyev and Abbasov transferred funds in the amount of 933,828.40 manat (approximately $1.2 million at the then exchange rate) to recruit people from various regions of the republic to commit the aforementioned actions.

According to the State Security Service, members of an organization called the "Union of Billionaires" were given instructions to send Azerbaijani citizens who worked under their command or who were in one form or another under their protection in a foreign country to Azerbaijan during the 2013 presidential elections in order to ensure the recruitment of relatives and friends in Azerbaijan for use "in accordance with the instructions of foreign intelligence services at rallies and mass riots."

According to the investigation, “a secret letter addressed by the “National Council” to the leadership of this foreign state in 2013 contained a request to support the activities of the “council” and to put pressure on the Azerbaijani state with the aim of implementing “reforms” in Azerbaijan.”

Furthermore, the press release further states that Ganimat Zayidov (Ganimat Zahid has been in political exile in France since 2011, heads the opposition resources of Turan TV, “Azerbaijani Hour” - note of “Kakazsky Uzel”) since the beginning of 2013, on behalf of Ali Karimli, entering into secret relations with representatives of the special services of a foreign country, negotiated for support in coming to power in Azerbaijan, promising in exchange “ensuring the strategic interests of a foreign state in Azerbaijan."

According to the investigation, "the parties also agreed that if Ali Karimli comes to power, the Republic of Azerbaijan will gradually become a full member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization."

07:28 15.07.2020

A rally in support of the army resulted in clashes between activists and Baku police

Security forces, using batons, forced participants in a rally in support of the Azerbaijani army out of the parliament building. The unrest in Baku was the result of a provocation, activists suggested.

It is also indicated that the leader of the Popular Front Party, Karimli, attempted to take advantage of the mass march of Azerbaijani citizens in Baku on the night of July 14-15, 2020, "in support of the army and against Armenia's aggressive war," by instructing Fuad Gahramanli and others to join the marchers and direct the crowd to seize the buildings of the Milli Majlis and the Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting CJSC and announce the seizure of power through the media.

In addition, on September 27, 2025, Ramiz Mehdiyev, through his assistant Eldar Amirov and other individuals, submitted written material in a foreign language to Ali Karimli entitled "Proposals for the Restructuring of the Public Administration System." Containing secret plans and plans of action against the state authorities. On October 3, 2025, Mehdiyev sent the final edited version of the above article through employees of Sharg-Garb OJSC, of ​​which he is the de facto owner, to high-ranking officials of foreign intelligence agencies, with whom he had personally contacted beforehand, and this sending was technically recorded.

In addition, Ramiz Mehdiyev, by October 13, 2025, laundered funds in the amount of more than 17,000,000 manats (about $10 million), obtained through criminal means.

For participating in the aforementioned criminal acts, Abbas Abbasov, Ali Kerimli, Fuad Gahramanli, Mammad Ibrahim, and Ganimat Zayidov were brought to justice as defendants under Articles 278.1 (actions aimed at the violent seizure or forcible retention of power, as well as forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), Eldar Amirov - 32.5, 278.1 (assistance to actions aimed at the forcible seizure or forcible retention of power, as well as forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), Ramiz Mehdiyev 193-1.3.2 (legalization of large property obtained by criminal means), 274 (high treason) and 278.1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Due to the fact that Abbas Abbasov, Fuad Gahramanli and Ganimat Zayidov are abroad and hiding from the investigation, a search has been declared against them, and the court decided on a preventive measure of detention in absentia, the report concludes SGB.