The trial of Tural Aliyev, the executive director of "Zeromap" LLC, accused of illegal access to computer systems of Azerbaijani and foreign companies and other cybercrimes, has begun.
According to "Report," the court investigation was declared open at a hearing in the Yasamal District Court, presided over by Judge Rashad Javadzade.
According to the indictment, between 2021 and 2024, Tural Aliyev, as the executive director of "Zeromap" LLC, obtained and implemented spyware capable of infiltrating the mobile phones and other technical equipment of individuals and legal entities.
Additionally, Tural Aliyev allegedly gained access to confidential information belonging to U.S. and Israeli companies and organized cyberattacks.
The Investigation Department of the State Security Service charged Tural Aliyev under Articles 271.2.1 (illegal access to a computer system), 272.2.1 (illegal acquisition of computer data), and 273-1.1 (distribution of tools designed for cybercrimes) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
In response to the charges, Tural Aliyev partially admitted his guilt.
The court offered him the opportunity to testify freely.
Tural Aliyev stated that despite having only a secondary education, he possesses academic-level knowledge of computer software and programming:
"I mainly worked in auditing. I wanted to create certain software for use in government-related projects. I believed that instead of purchasing such programs from foreign countries, we should develop our own and use them as a local brand."
The defendant elaborated on the capabilities of the software he created:
"My program allowed access to the mobile phones of any individual or legal entity, enabling the viewing of calls and WhatsApp messages. I tested the spyware only on my own phone. I restricted access to this program in CIS countries, including Russia and Azerbaijan. If someone tried to access it from these regions, the system would self-destruct. The software allowed entry into any phone through various methods. If a person answered a call, access was granted. Alternatively, if a photo was sent via social media and the recipient opened it, access was also established. Again, I emphasize that I only tested this on my own phone."
The defendant admitted to building professional hacking systems and using spyware of his own creation:
"I illegally accessed a U.S.-based company's system. I did this for reputation purposes and received small payments. My goal in accessing the U.S. website was to test the system. I simply wanted to make a name for myself. The intrusions were illegal. Later, I accessed the program of a Belarusian company based in Israel. There was no financial gain in this case—I just wanted to see the capabilities of my system because it involved significant financial resources. More than material benefits, I aimed to establish my reputation and introduce myself to the world. I had acquired certain codes."
Tural Aliyev stated that he intended to provide the software to government agencies:
"The programs needed to be tested first because no one accepts software that hasn't undergone trials. For this purpose, I accessed the computer program of a company in Azerbaijan. However, I did not conduct any operations. I also found vulnerabilities on Facebook, Google, and other social networks and received rewards in return."
The next court session is scheduled for March 18.
