A criminal case has been launched in connection with the torture and deliberate brutal killing of Azerbaijani citizens and persons of Azerbaijani origin in the Russian Federation, APA reports, citing the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan.
Criminal case launched by the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan
According to the statement, the case was initiated by the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan under charges related to torture and the brutal murder of two Azerbaijani nationals by employees of Russian law enforcement agencies.
The preliminary investigation established that on the morning of June 27, during a joint operation conducted in Yekaterinburg involving personnel from the Russian National Guard, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Federal Security Service in the Sverdlovsk region, Azerbaijani citizens and individuals of Azerbaijani descent residing at various addresses in Yekaterinburg were detained on suspicion of involvement in previously committed crimes.
Authorized officials from the Russian Federation agencies involved in the operation restricted the freedom of a group of Azerbaijani citizens and other individuals of Azerbaijani descent, who were effectively defenseless and unable to protect themselves from blows. During detention, transportation, and while held in administrative buildings of the operational units, these individuals were subjected to torture through multiple strikes to various parts of their bodies with hard blunt objects, resulting in severe bodily injuries.
As a result, Huseyn Safarov, a 60-year-old Azerbaijani citizen born in 1966 and engaged in small business activities, was deliberately killed around 3 p.m. that day in the administrative building of the internal affairs authorities in Yekaterinburg. His brother, Ziyaddin Safarov, born in 1970, 55 years old, a father of two working as a taxi driver, was also deliberately killed in the morning hours as a result of injuries sustained in a service vehicle belonging to the operational agency.
According to the forensic medical examination conducted during the investigation, Huseyn Mehti Safarov died as a result of post-traumatic and post-hemorrhagic shock caused by multiple injuries, including numerous rib fractures. His brother, Ziyaddin Mehti Safarov, born on December 10, 1970, died from post-traumatic shock resulting from multiple injuries sustained during the same incident.
It has also been determined that other Azerbaijani citizens detained by the authorized operational-search agencies of the Russian Federation have suffered varying degrees of bodily injuries as a result of torture inflicted using the same methods. These individuals are currently undergoing medical treatment in healthcare facilities within the territory of the Russian Federation.
Based on the collected materials, the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan has initiated a criminal case under multiple articles of the Criminal Code. The charges include Article 12.2 (foreign citizens and the stateless persons which have committed the crime outside the limits of the Azerbaijani Republic, can be instituted criminal proceedings under this Code); Article 120.2.1 (premeditated murder made by the group of persons); Article 120.2.4 (premeditated murder made with special cruelty or all-dangerous method); Article 120.2.7 (premeditated murder made by two or more persons); Article 120.2.9 (premeditated murder made by persons, obviously for guilty being down and out, and equally integrated to kidnapping or capture of the hostage); Article 309.2 (for abuse of official authority resulting in grave consequences); and Article 293.3 (for torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment that led to death by negligence).
Preliminary investigation assigned to investigation department
The preliminary investigation has been assigned to the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office, and an investigative team has been formed to carry out active investigative actions.
Requests for legal assistance to be sent to relevant states
The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan will, in accordance with international legal norms, send requests for legal assistance to the relevant states to ensure effective investigation and necessary cooperation for identifying and holding the perpetrators accountable.
