Azerbaijan is the only Muslim country in the world where Sunni and Shiite populations have always lived peacefully, so the current events taking place in the Baku settlement of Nardaran reflect the influence of external forces, which are interested in destabilizing Azerbaijan.

Law-enforcement agencies in Azerbaijan launched a special operation to quiet mounting unrest in Nardaran, Baku. Arrest has been chosen as a measure of restraint against 32 people over Nardaran incident, said Azerbaijan’s Interior Minister Ramil Usubov speaking to AzTV on Dec. 2.

Ramil Usubov said, Nardaran is backed to a normal life, adding that the law enforcement bodies will always ensure the security of Azerbaijani people.

"The main aim of the “Muslim Unity” movement, illegally operating in our country was to forcibly change the constitutional order of the state and create a Sharia religious state.

Azerbaijani people has already aware of the fact that, a criminal gang named as “Muslim Unity” has started to show their anti-Azerbaijan position in Nardaran settlement, as well as in Ganja and Lankaran regions. It was revealed that, illegal “Muslim Unity” movement have been existed for a year. Their main goal was to forcibly change the constitutional order of the state and create a Sharia religious state.

The relevant state bodies should prevent such criminal acts against constitutional structure of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Therefore, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave relevant instructions to neutralize illegal armed groups, and to strengthen public-political stability in Azerbaijan" .

Interior troops and police units were deployed to the Nardaran neighborhood in northern Baku on Tuesday to restore order after violence broke out last week during the arrest of a radical Islamic leader.

Ramil Usubov said the resulting clashes left two policemen dead while 5 extremists were liquidated. Six sub-machine guns, numerous pistols and explosive devices were found during the operations. He said,32 people faced arrest as a measure of restraint over the incident adding that " the operations are underway and socio-political situation in Azerbaijan is provided at the highest level, no reason to worry".
The minister said, it is the 23rd case of confrontation between Nardaran residents and the police.

“I remember them killing two of our staff members in 2005 in Nardaran. İt is the 23rd case of confrontation. Facts of drug trafficking and causalities have been registered several times.

I must note, people could not live in their summerhouses In Nardaran. They are affected by extra powers. In order to prevent such incidents, we prepared special operation on November 26. Associates of the General Prosecutor’s Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of National security joined their efforts to prevent the incidents…

Principal prosecution office carries out intensive investigations. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan control the situation in Nardaran”.

He asked the residents who wanted to achieve sharia law rules to handover all the guns they have to the Police.

“There was not any incident in Nardaran yesterday or today. However, we demand the residents to lay down the arms and voluntarily return to us. Unfortunately, none of the residents want to hand over their arms. I again demand the Nardaran residents to surrender their arms to the field patrol services. We will not initiate criminal proceedings against the people who obey the demands”.

Usubov also noted the maintenance of peace throughout Azerbaijan except Nardaran: "Our country and citizens will not face any danger. Furthermore, businessmen and foreigners can live and work in peace in Azerbaijan. Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan successfully sustains the peace and social stability that founded by the national leader Heydar Aliyev.

I am grateful to the society, mass media means and social network users for supporting the government in Nardaran incidents".



After the events of September 11th, radicalism became one of the real threats to both national security and statehood in many countries. Radicals around the world are taking opportunities. The `Nardaran` radicals, calling themselves Shiites, are led by Taleh Bagirzade, who was recently released from prison and was convicted once for the same action.

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