Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

the confiscation of assault rifles, ammunition, hand grenades, remote controlled explosives, and
communication equipment, among other items.
In May, Azerbaijan’s security service reported it had arrested 40 terrorist suspects and thwarted
planned terrorist attacks during the May Eurovision Song Contest held in Baku. Planned targets
during the event included major hotels frequented by foreigners as well as the song contest
venue.
Countering Terrorist Finance: Azerbaijan is a member of Moneyval, the Committee of
Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism,
a Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-style regional body. In order to bring Azerbaijan’s
legislative framework into conformity with international standards and requirements, including
those of the EU and FATF, a significant number of legislative acts – four codes, 15 laws, and six
presidential decrees covering more than 100 articles – have been amended but the Financial
Monitoring Service (FMS), Azerbaijan’s Financial Intelligence Unit, since 2009. Azerbaijan
continued to work with Moneyval to address the full range of anti-money laundering/combating
the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) issues identified in its Mutual Evaluation Report. The
U.S. government, primarily USAID and Treasury, has been one of the leading partners of the
FMS since its formation in 2009, working with it along with the Prosecutors office and others to
provide technical assistance and training to upgrade enforcement capabilities, which included
four distinct training sessions on AML/CTF issues in FY 2012.
The Government of Azerbaijan has legislation in place that permits the freezing of assets without
delay, and has presented a draft law to Parliament that proposes additional measures to
streamline and simplify the confiscation and release of frozen assets. UN lists are updated and
submitted to reporting institutions. For further information on money laundering and financial
crimes, we refer you to the 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR),
Volume 2, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes:
http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.
Regional and International Cooperation: In 2012, Azerbaijan began a two-year term as a nonpermanent
member of the UNSC, supporting various terrorism-related UNSCRs. In May,
Azerbaijan held the presidency of the UNSC, which focused on strengthening international
cooperation in the implementation of counterterrorism obligations. Azerbaijan also participated
in the Istanbul Process and supported counterterrorism confidence building measures referred to
in the June 14 Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference Declaration. Azerbaijan also took part in
working group meetings of Caspian Sea littoral states to coordinate law enforcement efforts
aimed at countering terrorism as well as smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and organized crime on
the Caspian.
Countering Radicalization and Violent Extremism: The Government of Azerbaijan restricts
religious activity, including television broadcasts and the sale of religious literature at metro
stations. Only imams trained and licensed in Azerbaijan were permitted to give religious sermons
and to lead Muslim religious ceremonies. Critics claimed that by driving the practice of religion
underground, these governmental policies could ultimately contribute to the growth of violent
extremism. We refer you to the Department of State’s Annual Report to Congress on
International Religious Freedom (http://www.state.gov/j/drl/irf/rpt/index.htm) for further
information.
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