Yekaterinburg court extends arrest of Azerbaijani diaspora leader Details

The Verkh-Isetsky District Court of Yekaterinburg has extended the term of arrest for Shahin Shikhlinski, chairman of the Azerbaijan-Ural organisation.

He will remain in custody until December 30, 2025, Caliber.Az reports via RBC.

Shahin Shikhlinski is accused of allegedly attempting to murder a businessman in 2010.

Shkhlinski was initially detained and questioned as a witness in the murder probe. He was later released, but an arrest warrant was issued for him in absentia by the Basmanny Court of Moscow, charging him with alleged murder and use of violence against a government official.

On July 1, Russian security forces, including the FSB and SOBR, conducted a raid near the Baku Plaza shopping centre in Yekaterinburg, targeting Shahin Shikhlinski, head of the “Azerbaijan-Ural” diaspora organisation, as part of a cold-case murder investigation from the early 2000s. During the operation, Mutvali Shikhlinski, driving a Mercedes with his father, allegedly attempted to escape in reverse, striking a Rosgvardiya officer and damaging a bystander’s Toyota Camry. Video footage showed security forces smashing the vehicle’s windows and dragging both men out.

By Khagan Isayev