Legal Issues in Yekaterinburg: Azerbaijani Leaders to Stay in Custody Until 2026

Shahin Shikhlinski

The Kirovsky District Court decided that Shahin Shikhlinski, previously the head of the Azerbaijani community in Yekaterinburg, and others will be detained until May 31, 2026. This means the legal process will continue well into next year, with jury selection set for mid-January 2026.

This case started with an operation by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on June 27, when thirteen people were first detained. The operation was controversial and tragic; brothers Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov reportedly died from injuries during the arrest. Some detainees were later released after questioning, but others, like Ahliman Ganjiyev, Aziz Abbasov, Shahin Lalayev, and Akif Safarov, are still in jail. They are accused of involvement in three different homicides from 2001, 2010, and 2011.

Shahin Shikhlinski was arrested soon after the initial raids. Besides the old murder charges, he is also accused of attempted murder and resisting officials. His son, Mutvali Shikhlinski, was detained the same day and is now charged with using force against a government official.

The situation has caused a diplomatic reaction from Baku. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to Moscow about the operation and how its citizens were treated. This legal issue is happening during a time of regional anxiety. Earlier, Sputnik Azerbaijan staff members were arrested but then released after a presidential meeting in Dushanbe. As the defense team gets ready for the 2026 trial, this case is still very important for the Azerbaijani community and those watching internationally.