A murder-for-hire trial acquired underway Monday for 2 males accused of plotting to kill a human rights activist and well-known critic of the Iranian regime.
Jury choice started within the trial of Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, each of whom had been allegedly employed by Iranian brokers to attempt to kill activist Masih Alinejad.
Amirov and Omarov had been charged with murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, tried homicide in help of racketeering and cash laundering. The pair is believed to have ties to Russian organized crime.
Prosecutors allege they had been contracted by members of the “Bazghandi Network” to analysis, monitor and goal Alinejad between 2021 and July 2022. However prosecutors say the plot was foiled when a 3rd man, Khalid Mehdiyev, was seen exterior of Alinejad’s Brooklyn home on July 28, 2022.
In accordance with court docket paperwork, law enforcement officials stopped Mehdiyev, and located an assault rifle, dozens of rounds of ammunition, a ski masks and money.
Mehdiyev just isn’t being tried on this case. Amirov and Omarov have pleaded not responsible and stay in federal custody.
The pair had been seated in court docket as the primary 100 potential jurors had been introduced in earlier than Choose Colleen McMahon for questioning by the court docket and events to see if they’ll serve. Each wore headphones to listen to translation of the proceedings.
A Yonkers man is in federal custody arrested on a weapons cost after touring with a loaded AK-47 close to the NYC residence of Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad.
U.S. officers have stated Alinejad, who labored for years as a journalist in Iran and have become a U.S. citizen in 2019, has lengthy been focused by the Iranian regime. She’s referred to as a critic of Iran’s human rights abuses, discriminatory remedy of girls, and suppressions of democratic participation. The Iranian authorities has denied being concerned in any plot on Alinejad’s life.
In put up on X Sunday, Alinejad wrote, “Finally, I will face the men hired by the Islamic Republic to kill me, right here in New York. Of course, it’s not easy. But it’s a big day. I’m deeply grateful to my new country, the United States of America, for trying to keep me safe from the government of my birth country.”
She is anticipated to testify in the course of the trial.
