Lankaran: A preparatory court hearing has been held in the criminal case initiated by the State Security Service (SSS) against Zahiraddin Ibrahimov, who is accused of treason by settling in the territory of a third country and carrying out the instructions of the special services of another country, and of committing acts aimed at inciting hatred and hostility on ethnic grounds within the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan in agreement with them, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the hearing took place at the Lankaran Court of Grave Crimes under the chairmanship of Judge Agil Nuriyev. During the session, the personal details of the accused were clarified, and his rights and obligations were explained to him. The court panel decided to refer the case for trial, with the hearing scheduled for April 16.

Zahiraddin Ibrahimov was arrested in March of the previous year under the criminal case initiated by the SSS. It has been determined that Ibrahimov, in exchange for material interest, was involved in secret cooperation and carried out tasks assigned by foreign special services that harmed the sovereignty, territorial integrity, state security, and defense capability of the Republic of Azerbaijan, conducting large-scale, destructive separatist organizational activities.

He has been charged under Articles 274 (treason against the state), 281.3 (public calls against the state at the instruction of foreign organizations and their representatives), and 283.1 (acts aimed at inciting national hatred and hostility) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.