Yekaterinburg court upholds detention of Azerbaijani nationals

The Sverdlovsk Regional Court has upheld a ruling by the Verkh-Isetsky District Court of Yekaterinburg extending the pre-trial detention of four Azerbaijani nationals — Ahliman Ganjiyev, Aziz Abasov, Shahin Lalayev and Akif Safarov.

According to Caliber.Az, citing the Telegram channel of the Sverdlovsk courts, the decision to prolong their custody until 29 December was issued on 16 October 2025. Defence lawyers argued that the accused should be placed under a softer measure of restraint, such as house arrest or restrictions on certain activities, but the appeal was dismissed.

Investigators allege that Ganjiev, Abasov and Lalayev were involved as accomplices — under Part 3, Article 33 of the Russian Criminal Code, which covers participation in a crime as an organiser, instigator or assistant. They are also charged under subparagraphs “z” and “j” of Part 2, Article 105, which refer to aggravated forms of murder:

• “z” — offences committed by an organised group;

• “j” — offences committed with particularly dangerous motives.

Safarov faces a broader set of charges, including the same aggravated provisions of Article 105, as well as Part 3, Article 30, which concerns attempted offences — situations where a crime was not completed due to factors beyond the suspect’s control.

In June 2025, Russian law enforcement agencies carried out an operation targeting Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg. The operation involved the use of force, resulting in the deaths of two Azerbaijani brothers, Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, from injuries sustained during the raids. Other members of the Safarov family, along with several other Azerbaijani nationals, were detained by court order.

The detainees were subsequently charged in connection with alleged crimes committed in 2001, 2010, and 2011. Later in Yekaterinburg, Shahin Shikhlinski, head of the Azerbaijani diaspora, and his son Mutvali Shikhlinski were also detained. A criminal case was opened against Mutvali Shikhlinski under the article concerning the use of force against a state representative. Shahin Shikhlinski faces charges of attempted contract killing and using force against a state representative.

This series of detentions and prosecutions forms the context for ongoing court proceedings involving Azerbaijani nationals in Yekaterinburg, including Ahliman Ganjiyev, Aziz Abasov, Shahin Lalayev, and Akif Safarov.