Jamiesfeast – In an Instagram video from January 23 (direct link, archive link), a man stands with a small group in a desert and tells the person behind the camera, “You are truly not smart enough to know who I am. But soon, you’ll know who I am.”
The video, originally posted on TikTok, alleges that the man featured in the clip is Movsum Samadov. Samadov was arrested in Azerbaijan in 2011 on charges related to terrorism and other offenses.
In the video, there is on-screen text stating that he crossed the Texas border illegally. It also mentions that Movsum Samadov is the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Islamic Party.
The post received over 50,000 likes in a week. Similar versions of the allegation were circulated on Facebook, Instagram, and X (previously Twitter).
Our rating: False
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The man in the video is not likely to be Samadov. He told an interviewer not long ago that the man doesn’t look like him and isn’t allowed to leave Azerbaijan. There are no reliable reports that Samadov broke the law and came to the U.S.
No evidence Azerbaijani extremist was captured in video
According to the video, Samadov held the position of the head of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan until his arrest in 2011. He faced charges related to “preparing a crime” and various other offenses, including the illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and carrying of firearms, accessories, supplies, and explosives as part of an organized group. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom provided this information.
The video states that he was sentenced to 12 years in prison and was released on Jan. 19, 2023. However, there is no evidence to confirm that he is the man featured in the video.
During a Radio Liberty interview on January 24th, Samadov responded to the claim and stated that besides the glasses, the man in the video does not resemble him. This information was obtained through a Google Translation of the article.
According to Samadov, he is currently prohibited from leaving Azerbaijan, which means he is unable to travel to the United States.
In a video shared on Instagram by an X user, we catch a glimpse of the handle at the beginning. The user had previously shared the video on Jan. 20, describing the man in the video as a “migrant who illegally crossed into the U.S.” Interestingly, the post does not mention Samadov or Texas. However, in a comment below the post, the user clarifies that the video was filmed in Southern Arizona.
USA TODAY contacted the Instagram and X users who shared the post for comment. However, we did not receive an immediate response. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach the TikTok user for comment.
PolitiFact, Lead Stories, and Check Your Fact have all debunked the claim.