Azerbaijan pushes back against Russian power

The reckless bully finally hit a wall—one stronger, more legitimate, and unwilling to back down. The sharp tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia have reached a new and dangerous level in recent days. The situation is serious.

Official Baku has begun responding assertively to the degrading actions of Russia, whose imperial mindset and power structures are increasingly being described as criminal rather than legal. This year, Russia’s law enforcement agencies—operating more through brute force than the rule of law—have repeatedly drawn criticism for their violent, inhumane treatment of Central Asian citizens. First it was Kyrgyzstan, then Uzbekistan. Now, there is blood on their hands—and this time, the victims are Azerbaijani nationals.

These two Azerbaijani citizens had been demanding justice from Putin’s Russia since late 2024. On April 10 of this year, following inhumane actions by Russian security forces at the Bodrost bathhouse in Moscow, the Kyrgyz government issued a formal protest. Russia, however, dismissed the concerns, claiming the incident was a routine and lawful inspection.

Then, on June 8, Russian security forces carried out another violent raid—this time targeting Uzbek migrants. Storming their dormitory, officers beat and humiliated the men, dragging them from their rooms. Uzbekistan responded with an official diplomatic note, and the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Maria Zakharova publicly acknowledged the complaint, promising to forward it to the relevant authorities. But nearly three weeks have passed, and there has been no update—no transparency about accountability, no justice for the victims.

Russian "chauvinism" toward Azerbaijanis

On June 27, a raid by Russian security forces in Yekaterinburg targeting addresses where Azerbaijanis live resulted in the deaths of two individuals—both reportedly Azerbaijani citizens, though some sources claim they also held Russian passports.

That morning, nine people were detained in an FSB-led operation targeting the Azerbaijani community. Two brothers, Ziyouddin and Husay Safarov—reportedly the primary targets—died after being detained. According to those close to the family, the brothers complained of feeling unwell during the arrest, were taken to the hospital, and died there.

In addition to the deaths, several others were seriously injured. Russian media reported that security services also searched the Baku Plaza shopping center during the raids. In total, more than 50 Azerbaijanis were reportedly detained—some later released after questioning.

The official reason behind this operation is a murder case opened 24 years ago—in 2001—related to the stabbing of a merchant near the Caspian Café. The Safarov brothers, who owned the café, were named as suspects by the victim before his death. Due to certain circumstances at the time, they were never prosecuted.

More than two decades later, questions abound: Why did Russian authorities suddenly reopen the case now? If the focus was on the Safarovs, why were so many others—including unrelated Azerbaijanis—targeted? Why were places like the Baku Plaza raided?

The Russian side’s justification—that “several individuals were detained as part of the investigation into past crimes, and searches were conducted”—raises more doubts than answers. The sweeping nature of the operation, paired with the deaths and mass detentions, has intensified criticism of what many now see as state-sanctioned ethnic targeting under the guise of law enforcement.

Even when viewed from this perspective, one must ask: why were searches, violence, and inhumane acts carried out primarily against Azerbaijanis, and specifically in their places of residence? Most likely, this time, Putin will not be able to answer Aliyev's questions, because official Baku is no longer waiting for Moscow’s explanations. Aliyev, the only head of state among the post-Soviet countries to have forced Putin to apologize, and Azerbaijan under his leadership, has already begun delivering retaliatory "blows" to Russia.

"Counterattack"

Following this unlawful incident, official Baku demanded that Russia immediately identify the perpetrators and take appropriate action. The chargé d'affaires of the Russian Embassy in Baku, Pyotr Volokov, was summoned to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where an official protest was delivered. However, Azerbaijan is well aware of how Russian security forces operate and how the government tends to cover up illegal and inhumane actions. Moscow's evasive "investigation" into the matter failed to satisfy Baku.

As a first response, Azerbaijan struck Russia in the cultural sphere. The Ministry of Culture announced the cancellation of all cultural events organized by Russian state and private institutions in Azerbaijan, including concerts, festivals, performances, and exhibitions. In a statement, the Ministry cited demonstrative, targeted, and extrajudicial killings and violence against Azerbaijanis on ethnic grounds by Russian law enforcement agencies in Yekaterinburg, noting that such incidents have become systematic. Citizens who purchased tickets in advance were advised to seek refunds through official sales points and online platforms.

This was only the beginning of Azerbaijan's response. The next step was political. The Press and Public Relations Department of the National Assembly announced that the Azerbaijani delegation, led by First Deputy Chairman Ali Ahmedov, would not attend the 23rd meeting of the Interparliamentary Commission on Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, which was scheduled to take place in Moscow. The cancellation was linked to the decision of the Ministry of Culture.

Azerbaijan’s next move targeted the public sphere. The national television channel AzTV joined in. Its Chairman, Ravshan Mammadov, delivered a strong critique of Putin and his administration during the analytical and informational program "Hafta", launching sharp accusations against the Kremlin. His statements gained widespread attention and intensified the unfolding events.

“What happened, Mr. Putin? Are you so disturbed by the fact that Azerbaijan has become a powerful state in the region—that for the first time in 200 years, it has not ceded an inch of land, but instead reclaimed it by its own strength, restored its sovereignty and territorial integrity, defended its national interests, and seen President Ilham Aliyev recognized as a global leader from the largest international platforms? We understand. After all, you are used to ruling over nations forcibly annexed by Great Russia,” Mammadov said.

He added that both during the reign of Tsarist Russia and the Soviet period, Russians viewed themselves as a "superior race," while Azerbaijanis, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Turkmens, and other peoples were treated as second-class citizens. In his remarks, Mammadov equated Putin's current policies with the actions of the NKVD during Stalin’s era.

“Although both empires have been thrown into the dustbin of history, this mindset persists. If Stalin once crushed those who raised their voices for freedom through the NKVD, today, Putin punishes truth-tellers using the OMON. In other words, 1937 continues—only more harshly, more brutally,” said the journalist.

He also posed a pointed question: “Do Kremlin officials, especially President Vladimir Putin, realize that this is not 1937 but 2025?” He referenced the Stalin-era repressions, the massacres committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan with Russian backing, and emphasized that none of this has been forgotten by Azerbaijanis.

“The countries that once made up the Union have been independent for over 30 years. Does he understand? History has not forgotten anything—not the Stalin-era repressions, the destruction of Azerbaijan’s intellectual elite during that time, the events of January 20, the Khojaly massacre, or the occupation of Azerbaijani territories for 30 years. Although Armenia may appear to be at the forefront, it is clear that Russia stands behind it,” Mammadov concluded.

He also said that during both the Tsarist era and the Soviet period, Russians were regarded as a “superior race,” while Azerbaijanis, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Turkmens, and other peoples were consistently treated as second-class citizens. In his speech, he equated Putin’s policies with the actions of the NKVD during Stalin’s time.

“Today, although both empires have been thrown into the dustbin of history, this view has not changed—this tradition continues. If, in the past, Stalin destroyed those who raised their heads and demanded freedom through the NKVD, today, Putin punishes those who speak the truth using OMON. That is, 1937 continues—only more severe, more terrible,” the journalist said.

He also raised the question: “Do Kremlin officials, and especially Russian President Vladimir Putin, realize that this is not 1937, but 2025?” He then referenced the Stalin-era repressions, the brutal massacres committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan with Russian support, and emphasized that the Azerbaijani people have not forgotten any of it.

“The countries that were once part of the Union have been independent for 30 years. Does he understand? History has not forgotten anything! Neither the repressions of the Stalin era, the extermination of the Azerbaijani intelligentsia during that time, nor the events of January 20, nor the Khojaly massacre, nor the seizure and occupation of Azerbaijani lands for 30 years. Although Armenia may appear to be responsible, it is clear that Russia is behind it,” Mammadov stated.

During the program, the AzTV chairman also noted that it was Russia that prevented the resolution of the Karabakh conflict and that it was Russia itself that created and sustained this territorial problem. Now, after the 30-year Karabakh conflict has ended, he claimed, Russia is taking out its frustrations on Azerbaijanis currently residing in its territory.

“Yes, it is Russia. For 30 years, Russia—having created the Karabakh problem and blocked its resolution—inflicted endless suffering by pressing on Azerbaijan’s Karabakh nerve, manipulating our national pride and patience. Now that the issue has been resolved, Russia is directing its anger toward Azerbaijanis living in its country,” he said.

He also recalled the downing of an Azerbaijani plane by Russia in Kazakhstan last December. Additionally, the AzTV chairman directly named Russian-backed propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, calling him a “scoundrel.” Mammadov strongly condemned Solovyov for threatening the Azerbaijani people not via unofficial YouTube channels, but through Russian state television.

“Now the Russian side claims it is investigating the incident. But what is there to investigate? Last December, an AZAL plane flying from Baku to Grozny was shot down by a missile in Russian airspace. Thirty-eight people died. Russia has yet to publicly apologize for this tragedy. An Azerbaijani MP was detained without cause at a Moscow airport and was not allowed into the country. Numerous cyberattacks are originating from Russia. Figures like Solovyov are threatening the Azerbaijani people—not via anonymous platforms, but on Russian state TV,” Mammadov said.

Superficial regret

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on the law enforcement operation, which was conducted with apparent disregard for human rights and freedoms. According to her, the operation was carried out “as part of the investigation of criminal cases concerning serious crimes committed in previous years,” and involved arrests and searches at residences. Russia’s temporary representative to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Pyotr Volokov, provided explanations to the Azerbaijani side and assured them that “the situation is under the control of law enforcement agencies.”

Following these developments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also issued a statement. Peskov, who made no mention of the violence against citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, said that Moscow is interested in maintaining good relations with Baku amid growing protests in Azerbaijan. He emphasized that the events in Yekaterinburg were related to law enforcement activities and should not escalate into political conflict. The Kremlin spokesperson also expressed regret over Azerbaijan's decision to cancel Russian cultural events and added that a conversation between Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev was not currently on the agenda.

Peskov's statement echoed the Kremlin’s response in the aftermath of last December’s downing of an Azerbaijani passenger plane by Russian military aircraft. At the time, Baku had demanded an official apology and issued several diplomatic requests, but Peskov had refused to disclose all the details of the crash.

Peskov's statement is reminiscent of the early days of political tension surrounding the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger plane by Russian military forces last December. At that time, official Baku demanded an apology and a series of other conditions from Moscow. However, Peskov stated that Russia was in no hurry to apologize until all the details of the plane crash were clarified. Despite this stance, a rare event unfolded in a Russia that sees itself as a hegemon in the post-Soviet space, echoing the legacy of imperialist Tsarist Russia and the repressive Soviet Union. President Putin personally contacted President Aliyev and offered an apology.

Holding a mirror to the abuser

This time, following the events in Yekaterinburg, the Azerbaijani side responded with systematic countermeasures. Azerbaijani law enforcement mirrored Russia’s arrests by initiating their own. On June 30, Azerbaijani police arrested two individuals affiliated with Sputnik Azerbaijan, suspected of working as agents for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The detainees were identified as the publication's editor-in-chief, Igor Kartavikh, and deputy editor-in-chief, Yevgeny Belousov. According to "Minval", the two were in frequent contact with the FSB and may have been operating undercover in Baku. Several media outlets reported that the individuals were detained for “illegal financing” of the publication’s activities.

The Azerbaijani Interior Ministry later clarified the situation, stating that Sputnik Azerbaijan had continued its operations despite the official suspension of its license in February of this year.

For context, in February 2025, Baku decided to suspend the agency’s activities to establish parity between the operations of Azerbaijani state media abroad and those of foreign journalists in Azerbaijan. This action coincided with the suspension of the Russian cultural center, “Russian House,” in Azerbaijan. However, many observers believe the real reason behind these decisions was the suspicion that an Azerbaijani state media aircraft had been sabotaged in Russian airspace before crashing in Aktau.

Commenting on the Sputnik case at that time, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizade stated that the agency would be allowed to accredit only one correspondent. The decision aimed to ensure equality between the Azerbaijani media presence in Russia and that of Russian media in Azerbaijan. In other words, the number of “Sputnik Azerbaijan” journalists permitted to work in Baku would match the number of “AZERTAC” journalists in Russia. However, the Sputnik editorial team did not comply with the decision. Since the suspension, the staff have not reduced their numbers, nor have they ceased operations.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova later claimed that the Azerbaijani government had not previously raised any formal objections regarding these journalists. She added that the Russian government had been unable to reach the journalists detained on June 30 and that their current status remained unclear. Staff from the consular section of the Russian diplomatic mission were also denied access to the detained individuals. Zakharova stated that the Russian Embassy had notified the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry, and State Security Service but had received no official response.

In response to these developments, Russia summoned Azerbaijan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Moscow, Rakhmon Mustafayev, to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Zakharova said the ambassador was summoned due to what Moscow considered “unfriendly actions” by Baku, particularly the alleged illegal detention of Russian journalists.

These are the most visible manifestations of the growing tension between Azerbaijan and Russia to date. Only time will tell how the situation will evolve.