Yekaterinburg: The detention period for several Azerbaijanis arrested in Yekaterinburg in June has been extended, as reported by APA’s Russia bureau. The Verkh-Isetsky District Court has granted the investigation’s request to extend the detention of Ahliman Ganjiyev, Aziz Abasov, Shahin Lalayev, Akif, Ayaz, Bakir, Kamal, and Mazahir Safarov until December 29, 2025.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, the investigation alleges that these individuals were involved in multiple murders and assassination attempts in Yekaterinburg during 2001, 2010, and 2011. The arrests followed a Russian law enforcement operation in June, which resulted in the deaths of two Azerbaijani brothers, Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, due to injuries sustained during the intervention. Other members of the Safarov family were detained and charged with crimes reportedly committed in the earlier years.
In addition, Shahin Shikhlinski, the head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg, and his son Mutvali Shikhlinski were also detained. Mutvali faces charges related to the use of force against a state official, while Shahin Shikhlinski is accused of attempted contract killing and using force against a state official.