The 2011 murder of Ikram Gadzhiyev, a vegetable base owner, in Yekaterinburg is under renewed scrutiny as authorities reinvestigate the long-unsolved case. The incident, captured on surveillance footage, shows a contract killer assassinating Gadzhiyev.

Gadzhiyev was shot at point-blank range but, surprisingly, did not die immediately. The video shows that, despite being shot in the head, Gadzhiyev chased after the assailant, disarming him and removing his disguise before the killer escaped.

Gadzhiyev succumbed to his injuries in the hospital four days later. The investigation revealed that the assassination was orchestrated by local diaspora representatives, with perpetrators from Tyumen, Azerbaijan, receiving $50,000 for the hit. The case faced significant obstacles and remained unsolved for years until its recent reopening.

The investigation has also linked Gadzhiyev’s murder to the 2001 stabbing death of Yunis Pashayev, a close friend of Gadzhiyev. Pashayev was killed near the Metallon cafe, and Gadzhiyev was the one who transported him to the hospital. Pashayev identified his attackers before dying, but the case was only recently solved.

One of the primary suspects in Pashayev’s murder, Ziyaddin Safarov, died during a police raid on his home. Safarov reportedly became distressed during the arrest and passed away despite medical intervention. Another suspect, Hussein, also died suddenly after being arrested, and another brother, Kamal, is currently hospitalized in intensive care.

Nine of the detainees are reportedly members of the Safarov clan, who own the Kaspiy cafe. Marcel Gasanov, currently on trial for a high-ranking position in a criminal organization, was also apprehended at the cafe during what authorities are calling a gangster meeting that resulted in a chase and shooting.

The recent arrests and detentions have sparked international attention. Following the raids, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry lodged a protest, prompting a response from the Russian Foreign Ministry.