Vidadi Mustafayev Elected to Lead “Azerbaijan–Ural” Community

YEKATERINBURG — The Azerbaijani community in Russia’s Ural region has elected Vidadi Mustafayev as the new head of the Azerbaijan–Ural organization. Mustafayev also heads the Ural Azerbaijanis’ Center for Culture, Youth and Sport.

He succeeds Shahin Shikhlinski, who, according to reports, was detained by security forces on August 2 outside Azerbaijan’s embassy in Moscow. The Basmanny Court has ordered his arrest in absentia.

Preliminary information indicates Shikhlinski is accused of involvement in an attempted murder of Fehruz Shirinov and of using violence against a government representative. His lawyer says Shikhlinski maintains his innocence and intends to appeal the arrest decision.