Bloomberg: An Azeri court imprisoned members of an Iran-linked group that plotted to kill the head of a Jewish school in the capital, Baku. Bloomberg
By Zulfugar Agayev
An Azeri court imprisoned members of an Iran-linked group that plotted to kill the head of a Jewish school in the capital, Baku.
The Baku Serious Crimes Court gave Rasim Aliyev, Ali Huseynov and Rauf Abilov, all three Azeri nationals, prison sentences ranging from eight years to 14 years, court official Amar Hasanov said by phone. The verdicts can be appealed.
The trial was held behind closed doors and Hasanov didn’t provide the name of the men’s defense lawyer.
The group, which received weapons and money from Iran, could not carry out the plan as its members were arrested by Azeri security services, Hasanov said.
The energy-rich Caspian nation’s ties to Israel and the U.S. have caused tension with Iran. Azerbaijan said in March it arrested members of an armed group that collected intelligence about foreign embassies and companies, including BP Plc (BP/), for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, or Sepah.