Twelve Iranians and two Lebanese who are serving sentences in Azerbaijan, were handed over to Iran, the Ministry of Justice penal service spokesman told Trend.

"Lebanese citizens Najmeddin Ali Hussein and Keraki Ali Mohammed, sentenced for 15 years in the Gobustan prison under articles 214 (terrorism), 228 (illegal purchase, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of firearms, component parts, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices) and 234 (illegal manufacturing, production, a,kcquisition, storage, transport, transfer or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or precursors), 276 (espionage), 318 (illegal crossing of state border of the Azerbaijan Republic) and 320 (forgery, manufacture or sale of official documents, state awards, seals, stamps, forms or use of falsified documents) of the Criminal Code were extradited to Iran August 8 by aircarft.

Two Lebanese Najmeddin Ali Hussein and Keraki Ali Mohammed were arrested October 4, 2009, according to the verdict of the Heinous Crime Court.

Four Azerbaijanis were sentenced to fourteen years. According to the indictment, the group was planning to attack the Israeli embassy.

The investigation revealed relationship of Keraki and Hussein with Hezbollah.

Today, Azerbaijani scholar Rashid Aliyev was released from the Iranian prison. He is already in Baku.

About 12 Iranians who are serving sentences in Azerbaijan, were extradited to Iran. These men are accused under articles 206 (smuggling), 234 (illegal manufacturing, production, acquisition, storage, transport, transfer or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or precursors) and other articles. They were sentenced for 8-14 years. There is a woman among them.

The above-mentioned people have been extradited under the protocol on legal aid, signed between Azerbaijan and Iran in 1998.

About 664 foreign citizens are imprisoned in Azerbaijan.