Azerbaijan conducts operation targeting FETO-linked individuals

By Ruslan Rahimov

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AA) – Azerbaijan conducted an operation Sunday targeting individuals linked to the Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO) and detained six people, including the leader of a political party.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs said the operation was organized based on information obtained from the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Five people were initially detained in the operation, according to the ministry.

One of those detained provided information regarding his association with Gubad Ibadoghlu, the founding chairman of the Azerbaijan Democracy and Welfare Party.

A search was conducted at Ibadoghlu's office, where important documents were found, and he was also taken into custody.

FETO and its US-based leader Fethullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 wounded.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas in Istanbul