Azerbaijani Diaspora Leader Detained in Yekaterinburg Amid Russian Criminal Probe

Azerbaijani Diaspora Leader in Yekaterinburg Detained and Released Amid Russian Cold Case Probe

Russian law enforcement briefly detained Shakhin Shykhlinsky, the head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg, as part of an ongoing investigation into a decades-old murder case involving ethnic Azerbaijani businessmen. The arrest took place in central Yekaterinburg, where security forces stopped Shykhlinsky’s vehicle, broke the windows, and forcibly removed him. His son, Mutvali Shykhlinsky, was also detained but later released.

Authorities stated that Shykhlinsky was questioned as a witness in connection with the reopened investigation into a suspected criminal group believed to have operated in the region since the late 1990s. The group is allegedly linked to several unsolved murders and organized crime activities. Shykhlinsky was released later that evening without charges.

The detentions follow the controversial deaths of two Azerbaijani brothers in Russian custody, which Azerbaijani officials claim were the result of torture. Autopsies conducted in Azerbaijan concluded that both men died from severe blood loss and trauma. The incident has sparked a diplomatic dispute between Moscow and Baku, with Azerbaijan launching its own criminal investigation and issuing a formal protest to Russia.

Russian officials maintain that the investigation is lawful and accuse Azerbaijan of undermining bilateral relations. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani authorities and diaspora organizations have condemned the treatment of their citizens and called for accountability and transparency in the investigation. The situation remains tense as both sides navigate the fallout from the arrests and the broader implications for ethnic communities in Russia.