Ahliman Ganjiyev, one of the Azerbaijanis arrested in Yekaterinburg, was reportedly tortured by investigators from the Russian Federation’s Sverdlovsk Region Investigative Committee, according to his lawyer Ilkin Amirov.
Amirov stressed that there is no evidence connecting Ganjiyev to the murder case in which he is implicated. “He has no involvement in the crime and has never met the deceased, Yunus Pashayev,” the lawyer said.
The ordeal began early on June 27, when security forces raided Ganjiyev’s home at 6 a.m. He was beaten severely for nearly two hours while officers searched the premises and confiscated phones, documents, and other belongings. Ganjiyev was then taken away to an undisclosed location.
Despite efforts by relatives and legal representatives, Ganjiyev’s whereabouts were unknown until it was later revealed he was held at the Investigative Committee’s facility, where he was subjected to torture. A court hearing regarding his detention took place on the night of June 28.
Ganjiyev faces charges of orchestrating the murder of Yunus Pashayev, but his lawyer pointed out that his name is absent from any case files or witness testimonies. “Ganjiyev doesn’t even know who Pashayev is, and that is widely acknowledged,” Amirov emphasized.
While the extension of Ganjiyev’s arrest poses the risk of further mistreatment, the lack of evidence also raises hope for his eventual release. The only purported evidence consists of a confession extracted under torture and the testimonies of two unnamed witnesses, whose identities remain concealed, making verification impossible.
Amirov remains cautiously optimistic, stating, “There is a possibility this case will be resolved justly, and we will fight to ensure that.”
Earlier arrests related to the case include Akif, Ayaz, and Mazahir Safarov, who were detained for 22 days, as well as Bekir Safarov, Ganjiyev, and Shahin Lalayev, who were remanded for three days.
The controversy erupted following an early morning raid on June 27 by Russian FSB agents in Yekaterinburg targeting Azerbaijanis. The operation resulted in the deaths of two brothers of journalist Seyfaddin Huseynli and several injuries.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry condemned the violent crackdown and demanded an investigation. They summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires to protest the incident strongly.
