The “Caspian” cafe and “Baku Plaza” shopping center in Yekaterinburg have faced recent disruptions, with the cafe closed since June 27 and the shopping center experiencing heightened law enforcement presence. These events are linked to the detention of Azerbaijani individuals in a high-profile criminal case.
The Caspian cafe’s closure is connected to the arrest of its owner, Azer Safarov, who is suspected of a murder dating back 24 years. Authorities believe Safarov and other defendants are part of an ethnic criminal group involved in multiple murders and attempted murders in Yekaterinburg during the years 2001, 2010, and 2011. Some suspects have reportedly confessed and are cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Currently, the court is deciding on the appropriate preventive measure, which is expected to be detention.
While a sign indicates the cafe is closed for “sanitary works,” the premises are empty, locked, and show no signs of cleaning or repair. Nearby vendors are hesitant to discuss the matter, with some claiming ignorance or refusing to comment on the reasons for the cafe’s closure. Others have noted the cafe’s immediate shutdown following the security forces’ visit.
The Baku Plaza shopping center also experienced renewed attention from law enforcement after a conflict between a film crew from “Krik TV” and a security guard. The film crew reported the incident, prompting a response from the Rosgvardia. According to Rosgvardia, the conflict was resolved by the time officers arrived, and they continued to patrol the area.
Mutvaly Shihlinsky, a lawyer and son of Shakhin Shihlinsky, a representative of the Azerbaijani diaspora, arrived at the scene. Both are affiliated with the “Azerbaijan-Ural” public organization and have close ties to the Baku Plaza shopping center. Shihlinsky declined to comment on the shopping center’s closure or the incident with the TV crew but requested documentation of his interaction with the police and the film crew. The shopping center’s leased areas are also currently not operating, and no reopening date has been announced.
The Caspian cafe has a history of closures and scandals, including a shooting in 2014 and multiple demolition attempts in 2016 and 2019 due to its status as an unauthorized construction. In 2024, Rospotrebnadzor ordered its closure for 40 days due to various violations, such as the lack of a hood, rusty refrigerators, and the absence of a menu. The cafe has also been associated with criminal figures, including Marcel Gasanov, who is currently on trial for holding a high-ranking position in a criminal hierarchy, and has been the site of gang-related incidents. Despite repeated attempts to shut it down, the cafe has consistently reopened.