Expert: Systematic provocations against Azerbaijan in Russia raise questions

Recent operations targeting Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg, Russia, have sparked justified outrage and concern. The fact that an operation resulting in severe injuries to many compatriots, the deaths of two individuals, and the detention of nine others was conducted by an official body – the Federal Security Service – raises additional questions. The incident appears more like a provocative act than a legitimate law enforcement operation. It is imperative that the Russian side provides explanatory statements and punishes those responsible for the violence, Mushvig Alasgarli, a member of the Press Council’s Board and media expert, said in a statement to 1nws.media 

He noted that other factors are also heightening Azerbaijan’s dissatisfaction and concern. The issue is that the Yekaterinburg incident is not an isolated event but part of a series of provocations against Azerbaijanis in Russia over the past year. The December 2024 incident involving the downing of an Azerbaijani civilian aircraft has yet to receive a satisfactory response. The silence and inaction of Russian law enforcement agencies in this matter further fuel discontent. Additionally, the refusal to allow Milli Majlis member Azer Badamov entry into Russia for an event in Astrakhan, as well as cyberattacks against Azerbaijan’s information resources launched from the same location in February this year, inevitably suggest that certain entities in Russia are deliberately orchestrating provocations against Azerbaijan.

“Such actions compel Azerbaijan to resort to international procedures. For instance, Azerbaijan could pursue the aircraft incident on international platforms and advocate for the punishment of those responsible. Alternatively, in response to anti-Azerbaijani rhetoric by figures like Solovyov on Russia’s official media outlets, Azerbaijan’s media could launch anti-Russian campaigns. It appears that the entities behind these provocations are intentionally pushing Azerbaijan toward such a response, aiming to shift relations between the two countries from neighborly cooperation to confrontation. We hope Russia will recognize these provocations and ensure those responsible are held accountable,” Alasgarli emphasized.