Scenarios circulate over Azerbaijani air force head's assassination

Gunned down outside his home, Rzayev, 63, was the highest ranking military official to be killed in the oil-rich republic wedged between Russia and Iran.

 

According to comments made by Akil Alesker, editor-in-chief of Azerbaijan's Yenicag newspaper, to hurriyet.com.tr, intense speculation surrounds three possibilities.    Â

Alesker claims that it is normal for people to suspect that the Armenian secret service is likely to be behind the murder, particularly as the incident came at a time when efforts to solve the frozen Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were being revived.

"The murder of the general will affect the ongoing peace talks regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to some extent, although there is still no official statement yet regarding who is behind the incident," he added.

Alesker played down claims that Rzayev, who is said to have partners in the food sector, was killed over an argument involving a venture that went out of business due to the economic crisis.

Russian media reports claim that Russian arms mafia may have played a role in the shooting, Alesker also said. Rzayev, who opposed to Azerbaijan's purchase of MIG military planes from Russia, persuaded President Ilham Aliyev to cancel the tender, he added.