Trial of 13 citizens of Azerbaijan who intended to fight on Chechen militants' side to begin in Baku on Wednesday

The trial of 13 citizens of Azerbaijan will begin in the military collegium of the court on grave crimes in Baku on Wednesday. They are accused of attempting to create an armed detachment and leave for Chechnya to help the warlords.

Some of the defendants were detained in Azerbaijan, and the rest -- in Georgia.

According to the materials of the investigation conducted by the national security ministry of Azerbaijan, all the 13 defendants were trained in 2001 on Georgian territory, acquiring the skills of firing, the use of explosive substances, work with maps for the purpose of participating in combat actions in the future.

Two defendants are accused of direct participation in combat operations in Chechnya against the federal forces.

Twenty-two citizens of Azerbaijan were charged with similar activities during the three trials held in the country in 2002.