Head of Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg, his son released after brief detention VIDEO

Shahin Shikhlinski, the head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, and his son Mutvali Shikhlinski have been released shortly after being detained. 

Mutvali confirmed that his father had earlier been taken to the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Sverdlovsk Region, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

23:45, July 1 

Shahin Shikhlinski, head of the Azerbaijani diaspora and the public organisation "Azerbaijan-Urals," was brought to the Investigative Committee of the Sverdlovsk Region to testify as a witness.

This was confirmed by his son, Mutvali Shikhlinski, who is also a lawyer, according to a local media outlet, cited by Caliber.Az.

According to Mutvali, both he and his father were detained in the morning by FSB officers. Mutvali was later released, while Shahin Shikhlinsky was taken in for questioning.

Mutvali Shikhlinski believes the detention is connected to a high-profile case that has attracted public and international attention — a law enforcement operation in Yekaterinburg during which two Azerbaijani nationals, the Safarov brothers, were killed.

21:00, July 1

The head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the Urals, Shahin Shikhlinski, and his son, Mutvali Shikhlinski, were detained near the "Baku Plaza" shopping center in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

The detention was confirmed by Mutvali Shikhlinski, who reported a large presence of law enforcement officers at the scene, Caliber.Az reports via Telegram. 

Video footage showing the situation was shared on the Telegram channel "Zloy Yekaterinburg."

Shortly after, Mutvali Shikhlinski himself was also taken into custody.

Azerbaijanis residing in Yekaterinburg confirmed the incident to the APA news agency.

Authorities are currently clarifying the circumstances surrounding the detentions.

By Sabina Mammadli