On December 6, three people broke into Simanduyev’s family house in the village of Krasnaya Sloboda in the Quba District, 200 km north of the capital Baku. They "inflicted bodily injuries” on the Jewish leader and his sister before robbing them of their money and jewelry.

Police have arrested five people on suspicion of involvement in the robbery attack. They were identified as Eldar Avadyayev, Xalid Seyidov, Türkana Rəhimova, Turac Valiyev and Afqan İbrahimov.

Police found money and jewelry during a search of the suspects’ homes. 

The majority Muslim Azerbaijan is viewed as a safe place for Jews and the government of President Ilham Aliyev has developed close political and economic ties with Israel.