An Azerbaijani businessman, Yusif Khalilov, has reportedly been arrested during a law enforcement operation in the Russian city of Voronezh.
Khalilov is identified as a co-owner of the Alekseevsky market, widely recognized as the largest commercial hub in the region, Caliber.Az reports via local media.
Details surrounding the circumstances of his arrest remain unclear, and no official statement has been released by Russian authorities as of yet.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of Azerbaijani nationals in various regions of Russia, following recent security operations and legal actions involving members of the Azerbaijani diaspora. It is not yet known whether Khalilov’s arrest is connected to any broader investigation.
To recall, on June 27, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) conducted raid on the residences of the Azerbaijani Safarov family, resulting in the deaths of two brothers, Huseyn Safarov (an Azerbaijani citizen) and Ziyaddin Safarov (a Russian citizen), severe injuries to several others, and the detention of nine individuals, most of whom were Russian citizens of Azerbaijani origin.
The early morning raid involved FSB officers and the Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR). The Safarov family, originally from Aghdam, Azerbaijan, and engaged in the restaurant business (owning the “Kaspi” restaurant), was targeted. The operation was described as violent, with reports of beatings, torture with electric shocks, and degrading treatment, such as forcing detainees to “eat mud” in transport vehicles.
Two to five deaths were reported, though only the deaths of Huseyn and Ziyaddin Safarov were consistently confirmed. Nine individuals, primarily from the Safarov family, were detained, with some hospitalised due to serious injuries (e.g., Akif, Ayaz, Kamal, and Mazahir Safarovs). Over 50 Azerbaijanis were reportedly detained in total, though exact numbers vary.
By Vafa Guliyeva
Source: caliber.az
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