Azerbaijan Furious after Discovery that Russian Police Not Only Tortured But Castrated Two Azeri Brothers
The deaths of two Azerbaijani brothers in Russian custody have ignited outrage and intensified tensions between Moscow and Baku. Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, both members of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia, died in Yekaterinburg following a mass arrest of Azerbaijani nationals in late June. Their bodies, returned to Azerbaijan, bore signs of extreme torture, including castration.
A source close to the Kremlin claimed that the brothers were abused. A claim echoed by an Azerbaijani public figure who said authorities initially withheld details “so as not to damage their prestige.” Forensic experts in Baku later confirmed the Safarovs died from shock caused by severe injuries, including in the groin area. Photos published by Azerbaijani media, partially blurred, showed extensive bruising and injuries.
Mukhammad Safarov, told local media that Russian police threatened to beat him to death unless he agreed to fight in Ukraine.
Safarov detailed how masked officers raided their home around 5 a.m., using metal belts and electric shocks. He said police warned they would either be killed or sent to the front lines in Ukraine. Not long after those threats, both Safarov brothers were declared dead.
A deviation from the usual “tax offenses”, Russia’s Investigative Committee has claimed the operation leading to their detention was part of an investigation into contract killings from many years ago. Official Russian reports listed Huseyn Safarov’s death as a result of complications from broken ribs and Ziyaddin’s as ischemic heart disease, contradicting the Azerbaijani autopsy that found clear signs of torture.
In response, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry demanded a full investigation and prosecution of those responsible for what it called “unacceptable violence.” Azerbaijan has also opened its own criminal case, charging Russian officials with murder, torture, and abuse of office.
The killings have fueled a political storm. Days after the bodies were returned, Azerbaijani authorities raided the Baku office of Russia’s state-run Sputnik news agency, arresting its executive director Igor Kartavykh and editor-in-chief Yevgeny Belousov on charges of fraud, illegal entrepreneurship, and money laundering.
By July 1, eight more Russian citizens were detained on allegations ranging from drug trafficking to cybercrime. Investigative outlet Important Stories reported, however, that some detainees included IT specialists who had relocated to Azerbaijan and even a tourist, suggesting a wider crackdown.
The case has further strained relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, once seen as strategic partners. Analysts warn that Moscow’s treatment of ethnic minorities and diaspora communities reflects a broader pattern of extrajudicial violence under Kremlin rule. Baku’s unusually sharp response signals a shift in its willingness to challenge Russian influence.
As outrage grows, the torture and killing of the Safarov brothers is emerging as a potential flashpoint, symbolizing both Moscow’s deepening brutality and its waning authority in the post-Soviet space.
