Russia’s Investigative Committee elevates murder case of Azerbaijanis to central office

Spokesperson for the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Svetlana Petrenko has escalated the probe into a criminal group operating in Yekaterinburg by transferring the case to its central office.

The case involves allegations against group members suspected of committing multiple murders and attempted murders within the city, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

Six Russian nationals have been detained as suspects in connection with the investigation. Three of the detainees - Mazahir Safarov, Akif Safarov, and Ayaz Safarov - have been placed under pre-trial detention by court order. 

The detention period for the other three suspects - Ahliman Ganjiyev, Shahin Lalayev, and Bakir Safarov - has been extended. Preliminary information reveals that one suspect died of heart failure, while the cause of death of another individual remains under investigation. 

Final conclusions will be drawn following forensic medical examinations. In a bid to ensure a full and impartial investigation, Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin has instructed that the case must be transferred to the Main Investigative Directorate, highlighting the gravity of the matter.

To recap, on June 27, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) carried out early morning raids on the houses of the Azerbaijani Safarov family, resulting in the deaths of two brothers, as well as serious injuries to several others. Nine people, mostly Russian citizens of Azerbaijani descent, were detained during the operation.

The raids began around 5:00 a.m. (GMT+3) and involved FSB agents alongside the Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR). The Safarov family, originally from Aghdam, Azerbaijan, and owners of the “Kaspi” restaurant, were the primary targets. The operation was reportedly brutal, with accounts of physical beatings, electric shock torture, and humiliating treatment.

By Naila Huseynova