Azerbaijani MP Critical Of Iran Injured In Assassination Attempt

Azerbaijan Republic’s interior ministry is investigating an assassination attempt on Fazil Mustafa, a lawmaker, who was injured by gunfire in Baku.

A statement by the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office on Tuesday said Mustafa, who is the head of Azerbaijan's Great Order Party, was attacked by unknown assailants outside his house in the Sabunchi district of capital Baku.

Covering the news of the attack, the Telegram channel affiliated to Iran's IRGC called him "a staunch enemy of Shia Muslims."

"Mustafa received gunshot wounds from an unknown person or persons near his house in Baku. The lawmaker was hospitalized with gunshot wounds in the leg and shoulder," the Interior Ministry said.

Later, the Azerbaijani Parliament said his state of health is assessed as stable.

"A criminal case has been opened following the terrorist act against Azerbaijani MP Fazil Mustafa, Azernews reported, citing the State Security Service of Azerbaijan.

"Comprehensive urgent operational-search measures are being carried out in order to identify the person who committed the terrorist act, and other persons involved in the crime, and bring them to criminal responsibility," the Azerbaijani State Security Service said.

Relations between Tehran and Baku soured more after a gunman assaulted Azerbaijan’s embassy in Iran’s capital Tehran in late January prompting Azerbaijan to evacuate staff and family members from the country. Baku also detained 19 people, alleging that they were working for Iranian intelligence services.

As in some Middle Eastern countries, Tehran sees Azerbaijan’s majority-Shia population as fertile ground for propagating its narratives and creating local proxies to influence Baku’s decision-making.