JEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA – JUNE, 2025 Russian units composed of three security agencies (Rosgvardiya, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and FSB) carried out extensive raids across the entire city of Yekaterinburg. The raids targeted the Azerbaijani community (gang) suspected of murders in 2001, 2010, and 2011. Over 50 people were arrested during the operation. Two of them did not survive – brothers Guseyn Safarov and Ziyaddin Safarov.
Safarov brothers
This incident disrupted diplomatic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. The official Russian autopsy report stated that one of the brothers died of a heart attack and the other from an accidental injury caused by resistance during arrest. However, when a re-autopsy was conducted by Azerbaijani authorities, it was discovered that both men had been severely tortured before death. Guseyn had a broken nose, chest deformities, bruising around the eyes, extensive internal bleeding, lung and pleura damage, and broken ribs. Zijaddin had similar injuries plus hematomas in the kidney and genital areas.
Azerbaijan lodged a strong protest with Russian authorities. The Russian chargé d’affaires was summoned, a planned visit by the Russian deputy prime minister was canceled, and the parliamentary forum between the two countries was suspended. Protests were held in Baku, with growing calls for a thorough investigation into the entire incident.
The Safarov brothers were members of the Azerbaijani community in Yekaterinburg, which is numerous and well-organized in Russia. According to media reports, they were known in the community but had no proven links to organized crime. The operation against them was part of an effort to “solve old crimes,” as stated by Russian authorities. Instead of justice, the raid brought death, suffering, and a wave of international outrage.
