Russian court reviews extending custody of another Azerbaijani national detained by FSB PHOTO / UPDATED

A court hearing has begun in Yekaterinburg, Russia, to review extending the pre-trial detention of Ahliman Ganjiyev, one of those detained by Russian FSB officers in the June 27 raid.

14:15

A court in Russia's Yekaterinburg city has ordered the detention of Bakir Safarov until July 19 in connection with a series of past murders, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Russia’s Investigative Committee previously reported that law enforcement recently dismantled an ethnic criminal group allegedly linked to several killings committed in 2001, 2010, and 2011. On June 29, the court also placed Ayaz, Akif, and Mazahir Safarov in pretrial detention over the same case.

Bakir Safarov, who was arrested in connection with the murders of previous years, does not admit guilt, his lawyer said.

12:35

The court hearing has started in Russia's Yekaterinburg city for Bakir Safarov, one of the Azerbaijani nationals detained on June 27 during a Russian law enforcement operation targeting Azerbaijanis.

The court is currently reviewing the extension of Safarov’s three-day pretrial detention, which was initially ordered on June 29, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Today, July 1, another trial is scheduled for Azerbaijani detainee Ahliman Ganjiyev. The court will also consider extending the 72-hour custody measure imposed on him during his first hearing.

Tomorrow, July 2, a court session is planned for Shahid Lalayev, who was also detained in connection with this case.

To recall, on June 27, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) conducted raid on the residences of the Azerbaijani Safarov family, resulting in the deaths of two brothers, Huseyn Safarov (an Azerbaijani citizen) and Ziyaddin Safarov (a Russian citizen), severe injuries to several others, and the detention of nine individuals, most of whom were Russian citizens of Azerbaijani origin.

The early morning raid involved FSB officers and the Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR). The Safarov family, originally from Aghdam, Azerbaijan, and engaged in the restaurant business (owning the “Kaspi” restaurant), was targeted. The operation was described as violent, with reports of beatings, torture with electric shocks, and degrading treatment, such as forcing detainees to “eat mud” in transport vehicles. 

Two to five deaths were reported, though only the deaths of Huseyn and Ziyaddin Safarov were consistently confirmed. Nine individuals, primarily from the Safarov family, were detained, with some hospitalised due to serious injuries (e.g., Akif, Ayaz, Kamal, and Mazahir Safarovs). Over 50 Azerbaijanis were reportedly detained in total, though exact numbers vary.

Ganjiyev and Lalayev were among those detained during the brutal raid.

By Khagan Isayev