Media: Ex-Azerbaijani diaspora leader faces life in Russia jail

Criminal cases have been opened against Shahin Shikhlinski, head of the organisation “Azerbaijan-Ural,” under charges of using violence against a government official and organising two murders. The former head of the Azerbaijani diaspora faces life imprisonment.

Investigators consider him the leader of an ethnic gang whose members are allegedly involved in killings and attempted murders in the Sverdlovsk region from 2001 to 2011, Russian outlet 66.RU reports.

The case concerning violence against a government official stems from an incident in early July, when special forces detained Shikhlinski near the Baku Plaza shopping centre in Yekaterinburg on Sulimova Street, 21. He was in a Mercedes-Benz G-Class with his son, Mutvali, attempting to park.

Mutvali Shikhlinski said that masked individuals broke the windows of his car and aimed guns at him during the detention. He stated that he was in shock and did not intentionally hit a special forces officer with the car door, which caused the officer to fall and, as later determined, suffer serious injury.

In mid-July, Mutvali was arrested. He denied guilt. According to 66.RU, the charges against him were later increased from Part 1 of Article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code (“Use of violence not dangerous to life or health”) to Part 2 of the same article (“Use of violence dangerous to life or health”). The special forces officer involved in the operation “has been undergoing treatment for an extended period.” The charges against Mutvali carry a prison term of up to 10 years.

Shahin Shikhlinski also denies the allegations. He is accused of organizing the 2010 murder of businessman Fahruz Shirinov, who had openly accused Shikhlinski of criminal activity. According to investigators, Shikhlinski’s associate, Elman Suleymanov, attempted to shoot Shirinov, but the gun misfired, and Shirinov, together with his son, restrained the assailant. Suleymanov later refused to testify during the investigation and in court. 

According to investigators, Shikhlinski allegedly demanded payment from Turan Kanoyev through a mediator for keeping silent. Kanoyev was taken to a cemetery, his legs were broken, and he later became disabled and soon died. A source told 66.RU that the killer himself testified against Shikhlinski in this case.

The investigation has been completed, and the case has been submitted to court. The trial of the participants is expected to begin soon.

By Khagan Isayev