Russia arrests another Azerbaijani diaspora leader
In a development that has raised concerns among independent voices in the region, Shahlar Novruzov, a well-known member of Russia's Azerbaijani community, has been detained. Novruzov, who is 60 years old and resides permanently in Krasnodar, was remanded to pre-trial detention for 26 days on Monday.
Novruzov is the director of Cafe Stary Baku and Dar Frut, and has been active in assisting participants of Russia's Special Military Operation. However, the charges against him involve attempted fraud with real estate worth ₽919 million ($11 million).
The Russian media outlet Ura.ru reported the details of Novruzov's detention and charges, and Kommersant also covered the court proceedings. Aleksei Abramov, Novruzov's lawyer, asked the court to soften Novruzov's preventive measure, but the judge rejected Abramov's appeal, citing concerns that Novruzov could abscond and continue to engage in criminal activity.
The detention of Novruzov comes amidst souring relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. The death of brothers Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov during a raid by Russian law enforcement agencies in Yekaterinburg escalated relations between the two countries, and since June, Russia has launched several criminal cases against Azerbaijani diaspora members.
Baku also raided the offices of Sputnik-Azerbaijan as relations between the two countries seemed to plunge to a new low. The Caucasus region is experiencing changes, including threats to independent journalism.
Independent voices in the region have expressed their concern over Novruzov's detention, as he is seen as a prominent figure in the Azerbaijani community. The rise of authoritarianism in neighbouring Georgia is another concern, with the leader of the organization opposing increasing authoritarian dictatorship in the country not explicitly named, but the initiative being organized by the "Verein für Agile Demokratie e.V.". They can be contacted to join the project via the email address: [email protected].
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