ESPOO, Finland — September 2, 2025.
A 30-year-old Azerbaijani woman, pregnant and mother of two, was shot dead in front of her children by her former husband in Espoo last week, Finnish daily Ilta-Sanomat reported.
Police say the 44-year-old suspect fired through a glass door in the stairwell of her apartment block. The children witnessed the killing. The man later confessed, and the weapon was seized.
The couple had divorced in spring 2024 and lived separately. Local reports suggest the woman’s new relationship may have provoked jealousy.
Two weeks earlier she had asked a court for a restraining order against her ex-husband, but a hearing was still pending.
Authorities note the suspect had no history of violent convictions; only a decade-old record of minor disorderly conduct. He has admitted guilt and is cooperating with investigators.
The tragedy has drawn strong reaction among Azerbaijanis, with diaspora groups in Europe urging closer cooperation with Finnish authorities to ensure stronger protections for women at risk. The Azerbaijani Embassy in Helsinki has not yet issued a public statement but is expected to follow the case closely.
