ISTANBUL — A letter leaked online shows that an operative informed controversial imam Fethullah Gülen about bribes made to government officials in Azerbaijan in return for facilitating the Gülen Movement's activities in the country.

The letter, penned by a Gülenist, reveals the movement's financial power and machinations in Azerbaijan.

The follower presented a "financial report" of the movement's activities in Azerbaijan for 2013.

The report shows that the movement controls assets of over $2 million in the country and "presented gifts to influential people in Azerbaijan" worth $732,000, implying bribery, as well as expenses of over $3 million for "friends in state agencies."

The letter states that the movement has trouble transferring finances to Turkey "over obvious developments," possibly referring to the fallout between the government and the movement, and asks for Gülen's advice on the matter.

The Gülen Movement is an influential group that evolved from a religious congregation to a network of followers united by anti-government ambitions. It operates schools in numerous countries around the world, including Azerbaijan. Following the Dec. 17 operation that revealed the anti-government streak among Gülenists, the government moved to purge Gülenists who had infiltrated state and government agencies. According to unconfirmed media reports, the administration in Azerbaijan, which maintains close ties with Turkey, allegedly sacked a senior presidential adviser to President Ilham Aliyev over his ties to Gülenists.