The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, alongside Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, announced the extradition of Polad Omarov, alias Araz Aliyev, from the Czech Republic to face murder-for-hire and money laundering charges brought against him in a Superseding Indictment pending before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon. Omarov was apprehended in the Czech Republic on January 4, 2023, at the request of the United States and arrived in the Southern District of New York on February 21, 2024, for arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave.

Williams condemned the alleged plot orchestrated by Omarov to target a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent known for criticizing human rights abuses by Iran. Attorney General Garland commended the extradition as a demonstration of the Department of Justice's commitment to safeguarding American citizens' rights. FBI Director Wray acknowledged the collaborative efforts with Czech authorities to uphold the rule of law in combating such criminal activities.

The indictment details how Omarov, associated with an Eastern European criminal group, conspired with others to assassinate the victim in the United States at the behest of Iranian individuals. The victim, a journalist and human rights activist, was repeatedly targeted by Iran for speaking out against the regime's atrocities. Omarov's co-defendants assisted in surveilling the victim, with one even purchasing an AK-47-style rifle with ammunition for the planned hit.

Omarov faces charges including murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each carrying substantial prison sentences upon conviction. His co-defendants, Rafat Amirov and Khalid Mehdiyev, were previously arrested in connection with the case.

The FBI's investigative work and collaboration with law enforcement agencies have been pivotal in uncovering and apprehending the suspects, with international cooperation from the Czech Republic aiding in Omarov's extradition. The charges laid out in the Superseding Indictment serve as allegations, with the defendants presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

The prosecution is being overseen by the Office's National Security and International Narcotics Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob H. Gutwillig, Matthew J.C. Hellman, and Michael D. Lockard leading the case. The extradition underscores the multi-agency efforts to combat threats to national security and uphold justice within the United States.