Russian court keeps Azerbaijani suspects in custody over 2000s murders

The Sverdlovsk Regional Court has upheld the detention of two Azerbaijani nationals, Ahliman Ganjiyev, Bakir Safarov, accused of murders in Yekaterinburg from the early 2000s, the court press service said.

Previously, the Verkh-Isetsky District Court of Yekaterinburg had ordered the defendants to remain in custody until October 19, 2025, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Their lawyers appealed the decision, but the regional court rejected the appeal, leaving the initial ruling unchanged.

The Investigative Committee’s Sverdlovsk branch reported dismantling a criminal group allegedly involved in several killings in Yekaterinburg in the early 2000s.

Eight suspects were detained; two have since died. Their bodies were repatriated to Baku, where official forensic examinations reportedly found evidence of violence, prompting Azerbaijani authorities to protest to Russia.

In response to the ongoing tensions, Azerbaijan cancelled events involving Russian participation and detained several Russian nationals, including Igor Kartavykh and Evgeny Belousov, who were arrested for four months.

Both countries have exchanged diplomatic protests, and their foreign ministries have summoned diplomats amid the dispute.

On June 27, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) raided the homes of the Azerbaijani Safarov family, resulting in the deaths of two brothers—Huseyn Safarov (Azerbaijani) and Ziyaddin Safarov (Russian)—severe injuries to several others, and the detention of nine people, mostly Russian citizens of Azerbaijani origin.

The early morning operation involved FSB officers and the Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR) and targeted the Safarov family, originally from Aghdam, Azerbaijan, who owned the “Kaspi” restaurant.

The raid was reportedly violent, with reports of beatings, electric shocks, and humiliating treatment, including forcing detainees to “eat mud” in transport vehicles.

While reports mentioned two to five deaths, only Huseyn and Ziyaddin Safarov’s deaths were confirmed. Nine individuals, mainly from the Safarov family, were detained, some seriously injured and hospitalised.

Over 50 Azerbaijanis were reportedly detained overall, though numbers vary. Among those detained were Ganjiyev and Lalayev.

By Aghakazim Guliyev