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Azerbaijan opens torture investigation after autopsy shows brothers arrested in Russia died from severe injuries
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The deaths of brothers Huseyn and Ziyaddin Safarov, two Azerbaijani nationals who died during a police raid in Russia’s Yekaterinburg over the weekend, were caused by severe post-traumatic shock resulting from extensive bodily injuries, according to Azerbaijani Health Ministry official Adalyat Hasanov.
Hasanov said the autopsy conducted in Baku contradicts the version of events presented by Russian authorities, who claimed the Safarov brothers died of heart attacks.
“Neither brother was killed with a sharp object or firearm — they were beaten with a blunt object,” Hasanov added.
Citing the forensic report, Azerbaijani news outlet Minval reported that the Safarovs were subjected to brutal torture.
Huseyn Safarov was found to have a broken nose, a deformed chest, bruising around the eyes, and contusions in the genital area. The autopsy also revealed extensive internal bleeding, multiple rib fractures, and tears in the pleura and lungs. Blood was discovered in his abdominal cavity, along with damage to the liver and peritoneum.
Ziyaddin Safarov reportedly had bruises, abrasions, and contusions “covering almost his entire body.” His chest was deformed, with additional injuries to the genital area and bruising near the kidneys. “One of his ribs was missing entirely, and the rest were partially broken,” Minval reported.
In response to the brothers’ deaths, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General’s Office has opened a criminal case on charges of torture and premeditated murder committed with exceptional cruelty.
The Safarov brothers were among dozens members of the Azerbaijani diaspora detained on June 27 during a police sweep in Yekaterinburg, reportedly linked to murder cases from the 2000s. According to Russian investigators, both brothers died of heart attacks following the raid. Other detainees (six in total, according to Russian investigators) appeared in court with visible signs of abuse. The Russian authorities have since claimed the suspects were also involved in a 2021 mass poisoning incident caused by counterfeit alcohol. All of the detainees were described as Russian citizens of Azerbaijani origin. The deaths and the broader crackdown have escalated tensions between Moscow and Baku.
Read more about the weekend’s arrests
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