A deputy from the parliament of Azerbaijan was shot in his home, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.

Parliamentarian Fazil Mustafa is in hospital after being shot in the shoulder and thigh with a Kalashnikov assault rifle last night, the security service said.

According to the information, there is no danger to his life, and the authorities have started an investigation to identify the perpetrator.

The lawmaker said from the hospital that he was hit by two bullets while pulling his vehicle into the garage.

The deputy became known in parliament as an outspoken critic of Iran.

The State Security Service noted in its statement the parliamentarian's anti-Iranian position.

The institution also stated that they have launched an investigation into a terrorist act.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Iran, where there is a large population of ethnic Azeris in the northwestern regions, have been strained in recent months after Baku announced plans to establish formal diplomatic ties with Israel.

In January, Azerbaijan closed its embassy in Iran after the diplomatic mission's head of security was killed in what Baku described as a "terrorist attack".

Shooting at the embassy of Azerbaijan in Iran, one dead