Displayed Visages of Russian Detainees in Azerbaijan
The diplomatic relationship between Russia and Azerbaijan has reached a critical point following a series of arrests and deaths during a police raid in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from Azerbaijan, leading to the cancellation of cultural events, official visits, and bilateral meetings.
The recent events began with the deaths of two ethnic Azerbaijani men, Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, during a police raid in Yekaterinburg. The raid was linked to a cold murder case from 2002 and involved allegations of an “ethnic criminal group” by Russian law enforcement. Azerbaijan strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a "brutal killing" and "targeted and extrajudicial killings" carried out by Russian authorities.
In response to the incident, Azerbaijan has canceled all Russian-linked cultural events and pulled out of bilateral meetings and official visits. This includes the canceled visit of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk and a withdrawal from a scheduled parliamentary meeting in Moscow. The tension between the two nations has been growing over the past year, with economic competition and sanctions-related issues adding fuel to the fire.
The diplomatic fallout has not been one-sided. Azerbaijan has also detained at least 10 Russians, including influential diaspora representatives, in response to Russia's actions. Moscow, in turn, has detained 9 Azerbaijanis. Among the detained Russians are at least two IT specialists who have reportedly relocated to Azerbaijan. The specific details about their identity and situation within this conflict are not yet clear.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has rejected Russian interference claims regarding its own law enforcement actions against Russian-linked entities within its borders. The Ministry alleges that the detainees are involved in drug trafficking from Iran. In a related development, the leaders of the Russian agency "Sputnik Azerbaijan" have been detained in Azerbaijan. A criminal case is reportedly ongoing against illegal activities connected to Russian media operations in Azerbaijan.
The Sabail District Court in Baku has arrested two out of eight Russians on charges of participating in an organized crime group. Video footage from the court shows signs of beating. Autopsy results have been conducted on the two Azerbaijanis who died during the arrest in Yekaterinburg, Russia, and video footage of the autopsy has been released.
Recent reports from Azerbaijani media suggest the arrest of members of an organized crime group in Baku. Two more members of the alleged organized crime group have been arrested in Baku, Azerbaijan. The arrest of the head of the local Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg has also been reported.
As the details of this complex case continue to emerge, it is clear that the current status is a significant diplomatic crisis with cultural and political repercussions. However, with limited public information about the Russian IT specialists' precise involvement, the full extent of the crisis remains to be seen.
The recent arrests and detentions have escalated the general-news issue, with Azerbaijan accusing Russia's authorities of targeted and extrajudicial killings, potentially affecting the future of politics and relations between the two countries. The ongoing criminal cases against Russian media operations and Russian IT specialists in Azerbaijan add an layer of crime-and-justice complications to an already tense diplomatic situation.
