BREAKING: Azerbaijan State Security Service Releases Leaked Audio Implicating Ramiz Mehdiyev in Coup Plot with Russian Intelligence
BAKU – The State Security Service of Azerbaijan (DTX) has released explosive audio recordings allegedly capturing Ramiz Mehdiyev, the former Head of the Presidential Administration, engaging in illicit discussions with foreign intelligence operatives identified as Russian contacts. The release, made public on Thursday, February 12, 2026, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing high-profile treason investigation against the 87-year-old former statesman, once known as the “Grey Cardinal” of Azerbaijani politics.
According to the materials released by the DTX, the audio files record Mehdiyev discussing detailed plans for government restructuring, specifically the formation of an interim “State Council” intended to replace the current constitutional order. The recordings reportedly feature Mehdiyev outlining a strategy to seize state power and proposing a transitional governing body that he would lead. The leaked conversations suggest that Mehdiyev was actively seeking support from Moscow-based circles to facilitate this restructuring during periods of heightened diplomatic tension.
This development comes just days before Mehdiyev’s initial four-month house arrest was set to expire on February 14. Mehdiyev was originally detained on October 14, 2025, facing charges under Articles 274 (High Treason), 278 (Actions aimed at seizing power), and 193-1 (Legalization of criminally obtained property) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. The release of these recordings appears to bolster the prosecution’s case, providing direct evidentiary support for the allegations that Mehdiyev was orchestrating a coup d’état.
The content of the leaked audio aligns with earlier reports from October 2025, which indicated that Azerbaijani authorities had been alerted to Mehdiyev’s activities by Russian officials during a bilateral meeting in Dushanbe. At that time, it was alleged that Mehdiyev had forwarded a proposal for a “State Council” to Russian contacts, expecting their backing. The newly released audio purportedly confirms these communications, capturing Mehdiyev’s voice as he negotiates the terms of external support and discusses the composition of the proposed interim government.
Legal experts suggest that the timing of this release is critical. With the pre-trial detention period concluding, the DTX is expected to petition the Sabail District Court for an extension of the preventive measures, potentially arguing that the audio evidence demonstrates a continued risk to national security. The gravity of the recorded conversations, which imply a direct collaboration with foreign intelligence services to undermine the state’s sovereignty, could lead to more severe custodial measures replacing his current house arrest.
Ramiz Mehdiyev, who served as the Head of the Presidential Administration from 1995 to 2019 and later as the President of the National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), was stripped of his influential positions amidst a sweeping reform of the country’s “old guard.” His arrest in late 2025 sent shockwaves through the political establishment, signaling the end of an era for one of the country’s most powerful historical figures.
The Russian government has not yet issued an official comment regarding the specific audio leaks, though previous diplomatic channels had reportedly distanced Moscow from Mehdiyev’s unsolicited proposals. The release of the tapes is likely to reignite discussions regarding the extent of the former official’s foreign entanglements and the internal security of the Azerbaijani administration.
The State Security Service has not ruled out further arrests as the investigation proceeds. The audio recordings are currently available for public review via the link provided in the official release: https://t.co/Y5LgOX9EH4.
* apa.az
* youtube.com
* tert.am
