Russian court extends detention of former Azerbaijani diaspora head ahead of trial

The Kirov District Court in Yekaterinburg has extended the pretrial detention of Shahin Shikhlinski, former head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the Urals, along with other defendants in the case. The accused will now remain in custody until May 31, 2026.

The decision was made during a preliminary court hearing, as the existing preventive measure was set to expire on December 30. The first main trial session is scheduled for January 15, 2026. Shikhlinski and the other defendants have requested that the case be tried with a jury, and the upcoming hearing will begin the process of forming the jury panel, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Earlier in June, Russian law enforcement conducted an operation targeting Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg. During the operation, violence occurred, resulting in the deaths of two Azerbaijan-born brothers, Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, from their injuries. Other Safarov brothers were arrested by court order and face charges for crimes allegedly committed in 2001, 2010, and 2011.

Following the operation, Shahin Shikhlinski and his son, Mutvali Shikhlinski, were detained in Yekaterinburg. Mutvali faces charges of using violence against a government official, while Shahin Shikhlinski is accused of attempted contract killing and violence against a government official.

Mutvali Shikhlinski was detained on July 16, and the court placed him under pretrial detention. Shahin Shikhlinski, initially declared wanted, was apprehended in Moscow on August 2 and transferred to Yekaterinburg. On August 24, the court ordered his detention, which was later extended on September 24 until December 30, 2025.

The latest ruling extends Shikhlinski’s detention by six months as the case moves toward the main trial.

By Vafa Guliyeva