Baku: Azerbaijan's State Security Service has disclosed that discussions regarding Azerbaijan's potential membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) were held in the event that Ali Karimli assumed power. This revelation was made in a statement concerning several individuals, including Ramiz Mehdiyev, Abbas Abbasov, and Ali Karimli, as reported by APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the statement outlines that in 2013, the 'National Council' secretly addressed a letter to a foreign state's leadership, seeking support for the council's activities and proposing pressure on Azerbaijan to implement reforms similar to those in the foreign state. The correspondence was part of prior negotiations involving authorized individuals from the foreign state.

The statement further accuses Ganimat Zayidov of engaging in clandestine communications and negotiations with foreign special service agencies on behalf of Ali Karimli since early 2013. Zayidov allegedly appealed for the use of these agencies' capabilities to help bring Karimli to power in Azerbaijan. In return, specific assurances were made to safeguard the foreign state's strategic interests in Azerbaijan. Additionally, an agreement was reached that, should Karimli ascend to power, Azerbaijan would gradually transition to full membership in the CSTO.