Russia arrests another Azerbaijani community leader
In a recent development, Shahlar Novruzov, a prominent member of Russia's Azerbaijani community in the Kuban region, has been remanded to pre-trial detention for 26 days. The detainment occurred on Monday, following allegations of real estate fraud amounting to ₽919 million ($11 million).
Novruzov, a 60-year-old who resides permanently in Krasnodar, has not previously been prosecuted. The charges against him were made public by Russian media outlets such as Kommersant, Ura.ru, and Sputnik-Azerbaijan.
The judge in Novruzov's case rejected an appeal by his lawyer, Aleksei Abramov, who had asked the court to soften Novruzov's preventive measure. The rejection was based on concerns about Novruzov absconding and continuing criminal activity.
Novruzov's lawyer, Vladislav Devyatkin, is handling the case. It is worth noting that Novruzov has provided assistance to participants of Russia's Special Military Operation, a fact that has not been directly linked to the charges against him.
The detainment of Novruzov and the subsequent developments have further strained the already tense relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. The deaths of brothers Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov in a raid by Russian law enforcement agencies in Yekaterinburg have been a significant contributing factor to this deterioration. In response, Baku cancelled a number of Russia-related events and even raided the offices of Sputnik-Azerbaijan.
Russia has launched several criminal cases against members of the Azerbaijani diaspora starting in June, adding to the mounting tension between the two countries. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how these events will impact the already complex geopolitical landscape.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Berlin's Roma-Sinti communities asserting their presence in German theatrical arenas
- Love missive penned by Ali Chahrour addresses turbulent Beirut city
- "The concept of 'corporate feudalism' is not viable"
