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PM of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and thanked him for exposing the network of Nur movement in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani news portal Haqqin.az reports about this referring to Qafqazinfo.az website.

As the portal reports, Erdoğan as well posited that he was satisfied with the dismissal of department head of Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan “Imam of Nurs in Azerbaijan” Elnur Aslanov. It is also reported that Erdoğan said that the organization “Hizmet” controlled by Fethullah Gülen, in its attacks on Turkish government made an extensive use of the capabilities of its network in Azerbaijan.

“Due to financial resources of Azerbaijani Nur network several effective NGOs, think tanks, media centers and even a university have been created in Turkey. These centers operate with the financial support given by State companies of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Azerbaijan as well as the Centre of Strategic Studies under the President of Azerbaijan. These structures support the organization “Hizmet”, influence public opinion and direct it against the Turkish government,” Erdoğan said.

In a conversation with Ilham Aliyev, Erdoğan as well noticed that Turkish Intelligence prepared a list of Nurs that are members of Azerbaijani government as well as the list of organizations in Turkey that are funded by them. The information will be presented to Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan in the near future.

Turkish PM wished to continue the process of neutralization of Nurs in Azerbaijan which has been launched with the dismissal of Elnur Aslanov.

“Aslanov, while in the government of Azerbaijan, followed the orders of Nurs. However, the power that stood behind him hasn’t been neutralized yet. Complete liquidation of Nur network will be possible only after the neutralization of that power as well as big number of its followers in state structures, non-governmental organizations and media,” Erdoğan said.

Citing its own sources Haqqin.az reports that the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan has abolished the department of political analysis and information provision, the head of which was Aslanov. According to the report, the department of political analysis and information provision of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan became part of Social-political department of the Administration, the head of which is Ali Hasanov.

Azerbaijani news portal Minval.az reports that after the dismissal of Elnur Aslanov, the Azerbaijani websites that were under his control will further operate under the leadership of Ali Hasanov.

Meanwhile, according to the information, 1news.az, Trend Russian-language news agencies as well as “Baku Post” newspaper will operate under the leadership of the head of Trend Ilgar Huseynov.

Portal notes that some Azerbaijani media reported about the power struggle between Elnur Aslanov and Ali Hasanli for the influence on media and control over youth organizations.

“Aslanov oversaw the work of the Centre of Strategic Studies under the President and pro-government youth organization “Ireli”. Besides, under the control of Aslanov operated leading pro-government websites,” the portal reports.

Note that the newspaper “Yeni Musavat” referring to the source in social networks has disseminated information that the official circles of Turkey have provided the Azerbaijani government with a list of high-ranking officials of Azerbaijan in the administration of President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani government, which include or are related with such religious direction, as Nursizm.

The list of officials recruited by the sect of Fethullah Gülen include, the head of Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Elnur Aslanov, SOCAR vice president Khalig Mammadov, chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Elshad Isgandarov, his deputy Gunduz Ismailov, Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Intigam Babayev, MP Jeyhun Osmanli, CSR Director under the Presidential Administration Farhad Mammadov, Chairman of the Youth Foundation Farhad Hajiyev.Already on March 17 Elnur Aslanov was dismissed from his position as a head of the department of Political Analysis and Information Provision of the Presiental Administration of Azerbaijan.

Nur sect leader is Turkish billionaire Fethullah Gülen. He also owns large industrial and financial companies and holdings worldwide. Gülen owns a large network of schools and educational institutions. In 1998, Gülen was accused of attempting to overthrow the existing regime in secular Turkey. At the same time avoiding the punishment, he immigrated to the United States. When the AKP came to power all charges against him were dropped. Turkish Prime Minister R. T. Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party are accused of having ties to Gülen. According to various estimates, about five million people in Turkey and abroad (particularly in Azerbaijan and Central Asia) are involved in the Gülen movement.

In some countries, particularly in Russia, the Gülen sect "Nurjular" (or "Nur") is prohibited, and its followers are held accountable for spreading extremism. The Russian FSS believes that members of the sect are collecting intelligence in favor of Turkey and have ties with terrorists in the North Caucasus.