R ecently, reports from the United States on possible terrorist attacks in Azerbaijan and Turkey and possible kidnappings of foreign citizens have become more frequent. The Government of the United States urges its citizens as well as other foreigners to avoid travelling to Azerbaijan and Turkey. The United Kingdom also spread a message about the terrorist threat in Azerbaijan.

It should be noted that some of the messages were spread before the hostilities against Artsakh unleashed by Azerbaijan. We believe that the US messages are closely related to Turkey’s transfer of terrorist groups from Syria and Libya to Azerbaijan.

There is credible information that Turkey began transferring terrorists months before Azerbaijan unleashed hostilities against Artsakh. There are talks about up to 4000 terrorists and militants, who moved to Azerbaijan in groups. It is clear that when arriving in Azerbaijan, these terrorist groups are temporarily deployed in Turkey and some of them in Azerbaijan, perhaps in Baku and in other cities, after which they are transferred to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone to participate in the hostilities.

During their stay in the cities of Azerbaijan, terrorist groups can logically be a terrorist threat to local foreigners. It should be noted that terrorists are paid by Ankara and are immediately submitted to the Turkish intelligence services and military command. Hence, terrorist groups may implement terrorist attacks and kidnappings of the US citizens in Azerbaijan on the instructions of Turkey because of strained USA-Turkey relations. Such an incident took place in Turkey, related with the arrest of an American protestant pastor Andrew Branson.

Due to the terrorist threat in Azerbaijan, the US State Department told its citizens to avoid travelling to Azerbaijan on August 6, 2020, before Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh. 

The US State Department’s statement noted: “Azerbaijan has a longstanding risk presented by terrorist groups, who continue plotting possible attacks in Azerbaijan. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas” [1],[2].

On October 24, 2020, the US Embassy in Azerbaijan warned its citizens about the danger of terrorist attacks in that country. The embassy’s website stated in the message: “The U.S. Embassy in Baku has received credible reports of potential terrorist attacks and kidnappings against U.S. citizens and foreign nationals in Baku, including against hotels such as the J.W. Marriott Absheron, as well as potentially other locations in Baku.  U.S. citizens are advised to exercise heightened caution in locations where Americans or foreigners may gather” [3],[4].

In mid-October, the United Kingdom also issued a statement on the terrorist threat and possible attacks in Azerbaijan. The UK embassy noted in its message: “Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Azerbaijan. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners, such as international hotels, restaurants and pubs, as well as energy sector facilities. There is a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria” [5].

As it was expected, Aliev tried to direct the US and the UK statements on the terrorist threat in Azerbaijan against Armenia. On October 15, the State Security Service of Azerbaijan warned its citizens, as if Armenian Special Services are planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Baku and in other major cities of the country. It’s quite clear, that Aliev tries to make it clear to the West as if the Armenian side intends to target the Azerbaijani oil and gas communication infrastructure first of all.

The US State Department also warned its citizens to avoid travelling to Turkey due to possible terrorist attacks. Such a message was spread still on August 26, 2020. The message noted: “Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Turkey. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas” [6].

On October 23, the US Embassy in Turkey once again warned its citizens about the danger of possible terrorist attacks in Turkey. It was noted in the message shared by the US Embassy: “The U.S. Mission in Turkey has received credible reports of potential terrorist attacks and kidnappings against U.S. citizens and foreign nationals in Istanbul, including against the U.S. Consulate General, as well as potentially other locations in Turkey.  U.S. citizens are advised to exercise heightened caution in locations where Americans or foreigners may gather, including large office buildings or shopping malls” [7].

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[1] https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1030180.html

[2] https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/travela

[3] https://hetq.am/hy/article/123522

[4] https://az.usembassy.gov/security-alert-for-u-s

[5] https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/azerbaijan

[6] https://t11ravel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladv

[7] https://tr.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-mission