Arrest of Azerbaijani diaspora head recorded in Ekaterinburg by the media
The trial related to an ethnic gang case involving members of the Azerbaijan diaspora in Yekaterinburg is currently underway in the Court of Yekaterinburg. The defendant, who has been arrested and detained for two months until mid-September 2025, is facing charges as part of an ethnic criminal confrontation that has raised concerns and sparked reactions from both Russia and Azerbaijan.
According to reports from Justmedia.ru, the central apparatus of the Investigative Committee is investigating this case. The trial, initially expected to take place in Moscow, has now been relocated to Yekaterinburg. The trial will involve the Safarovs and Shikhliniskys, along with other suspects, and is expected to shed light on the illegal activities of the gang.
The nature of the gang’s illegal operations remains unclear from the available information. However, the mention of "ethnic criminal confrontation" suggests the case involves some form of ethnically motivated criminal activity, potentially escalating to an international scandal. The specific crimes committed by the gang, such as organizing prostitution, distributing pornography, and drug trafficking, have not been detailed in the sources.
The incident involving Shahin and Mutvaly Shikhlinisky, the chairman of the "Azerbaijan-Ural" NGO and his son, respectively, took place in Yekaterinburg. Mutvaly Shikhlinisky is accused of reversing his SUV and striking a Rosgvardiya officer, causing head injuries. Previously, Mutvaly Shikhlinisky was arrested on charges of assaulting a law enforcement officer.
The arrests of several members of the Azerbaijan diaspora in Yekaterinburg in late June sparked a strong reaction from Baku. Two individuals died during the raids involving the Azerbaijan diaspora in Yekaterinburg. Shahin Shikhlinisky, initially questioned as a witness, has become a suspect in the case of an ethnic criminal gang.
The trial's outcome will provide clarity on the extent and nature of the illegal activities committed by the gang, and whether it indeed poses an international threat as suggested by the media. Further investigations may be required to uncover more details about the case and the specific crimes committed by the gang.
Sources: Justmedia.ru
The ongoing trial in Yekaterinburg, involving the Safarovs, Shikhliniskys, and others, extends beyond the Azerbaijan ethnic gang case, enveloping politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice. The trial's outcomes may reveal the gang's illegal activities, including organizing prostitution, distributing pornography, and drug trafficking, potentially escalating into an international scandal.
