Escalating Tensions Between Russia and Azerbaijan: Deaths, Detentions, and Diplomatic Fallout

Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia have plunged into a severe diplomatic crisis following a series of escalating incidents, including the deaths of two Azerbaijanis during a police operation in Russia and a subsequent crackdown on Russian media outlets in Azerbaijan. The events have triggered mutual accusations, widespread detentions, and the cancellation of high-level visits and cultural exchanges, signaling a significant deterioration in bilateral ties.

Deadly Raid in Yekaterinburg Sparks Outcry

The crisis ignited on June 27 when Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) raided the home of the Safarov family, Azerbaijanis residing in Yekaterinburg. The operation resulted in the deaths of two brothers, Huseyn Safarov and Ziyaddin Safarov. Their brother, literary critic Seyfaddin Huseynli, who lives in Baku, reported that nine of his relatives were detained during the raid.

Vugar Safarov, one of the family members present, recounted a harrowing experience. He described a violent 5 AM raid where masked officers broke down their door, assaulted his mother, and subjected him, his brother, and his father to severe beatings with batons and crowbars, including electrocution. "They broke the tables in the house on our backs," he stated, adding that the torture continued at the police station, where his father, a heart patient, was repeatedly electrocuted despite his pleas. Vugar Safarov also recalled hearing officers say, "Two people died."

The Russian Investigative Committee for Sverdlovsk Oblast stated that the operations were linked to a series of murders and attempted murders committed in Yekaterinburg in 2001, 2010, and 2011, referring to the Safarov family as an "ethnic criminal group" despite no specific court ruling. However, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office, in a briefing on July 2, asserted that the Safarov brothers died from post-traumatic shock resulting from numerous injuries, emphasizing that Ziyaddin Safarov was "perfectly healthy" when taken from his home, suggesting death under torture. They vowed to use "all legal mechanisms" to solve the crime, with the case under the Prosecutor General's direct control.

Further detentions in Yekaterinburg on July 1 included Shahin Lalayev, placed under pre-trial detention, and Shahin Shikhlinksi, head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the Ural region, and his son Mutvali Shikhlinksi, who were violently apprehended in their car before being released later.

Azerbaijan's Swift Retaliation and Diplomatic Maneuvers

Azerbaijan responded swiftly and forcefully to the Yekaterinburg incident. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) expressed "deep concern" over the deaths and injuries, demanding an investigation and punishment for those responsible. On June 28, Russia's interim chargé d'affaires in Azerbaijan, Pyotr Volokovykh, was summoned to the Azerbaijani MFA and presented with a "strong protest."

Azerbaijan's Ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva, appealed to the Russian Ombudsman, condemning the alleged torture as a violation of international law.

The tensions escalated further in Baku. On June 30, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) raided the Baku office of "Sputnik Azerbaijan," a branch of Russia's "Rossiya Segodnya" International News Agency. The pro-government APA News Agency reported that two employees of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) working at the agency were detained during the operation.

On July 1, the Khatai District Court in Baku ordered the four-month pre-trial arrest of Igor Kartavykh, executive director of "Sputnik Azerbaijan," and Yevgeny Belousov, its chief editor. They face charges including fraud, illegal entrepreneurship, and money laundering, with accusations of operating on an "illegal financing basis" after their accreditation was suspended in February 2025. An RT journalist, Aytekin Huseynova, was also detained while filming the search. The MIA stated that a criminal case had been opened against seven individuals in connection with "Sputnik Azerbaijan."

Widespread Cancellations and Political Fallout

The escalating tensions have led to a wave of cancellations. Most official visits and cultural events between the two countries have been halted. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Overchuk's planned visit to Azerbaijan at the end of June was canceled, as was a visit by an Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation to Russia.

All Russian cultural events scheduled in Azerbaijan have been suspended. This includes "Dream Fest," one of Azerbaijan's largest summer music festivals, organized by People's Artist of Azerbaijan Emin Agalarov. Agalarov confirmed that the festival's program, which was to feature approximately 20 popular Russian performers, would undergo "significant changes."

Reactions and International Commentary

The Kremlin, through its press secretary Dmitry Peskov, called the detentions of Russian journalists in Azerbaijan an "extremely emotional reaction." He expressed hope for their quick release, stating that such measures "contradict generally accepted rules and norms" and "do not correspond to the spirit and character of Russian-Azerbaijani relations."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, in a briefing on July 2, stated that the "Sputnik.az" operation was for "other reasons" not directly related to the agency's activities. She underscored the importance of friendly relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, warning that "whoever wants to disrupt these relations is not thinking clearly."

Azerbaijani officials, however, have voiced strong condemnations. Member of Parliament Hikmat Babaoglu demanded an immediate halt to the violence, stating that these events "have exposed Russia's imperialist nature." MP Azer Badamov asserted that the "brutal treatment of migrants and Islamophobia have risen to the level of Russian state policy," while MP Fatma Yildirim called the Yekaterinburg events a "clear example of ethnic violence."

Human rights defender and lawyer Rasul Jafarov highlighted that Russia, despite its withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights, has ratified key UN human rights treaties. He argued that the incidents violated Articles 6 (right to life) and 7 (right not to be subjected to torture) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as provisions of the Convention Against Torture.

Ali Karimli, chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), went further, calling the events a "massacre" and alleging that the order came directly from President Vladimir Putin. Karimli suggested that Putin views Azerbaijan not as an ally but as a "vassal" or "colony," aiming for its complete subjugation.

Amidst these bilateral tensions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to offer condolences regarding the torture and death of the two Azerbaijanis in Russia, adding another layer to the complex geopolitical landscape.

The current situation remains highly volatile, with both Azerbaijan and Russia maintaining firm stances. The series of events, from the tragic deaths in Yekaterinburg to the retaliatory detentions in Baku and the widespread cancellations, has significantly strained a

relationship already marked by historical complexities. The coming days will be crucial in determining the extent of the damage to bilateral ties and whether a diplomatic resolution can be found amidst accusations of human rights violations and assertions of national sovereignty.