Escalating Diplomatic Tensions Between Russia and Azerbaijan

The diplomatic rift between Russia and Azerbaijan has intensified following the deaths of two Azeri men who were detained by Russian police during a crime investigation under suspicious circumstances. Azerbaijan has accused Russian authorities of torturing the men, leading to their deaths.

The deceased, brothers Ziyadin and Hussein Safarov, were among approximately 50 individuals taken into custody on June 27 in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Russian officials claim the operation was part of an investigation into an ethnic organized crime group, often referred to as the Azeri Mafia. This investigation dates back to 2001 and includes a notorious case involving Yunis Pashayev, an Azeri businessman who was reportedly murdered for refusing to pay extortion fees.

According to Russian prosecutors, this gang has a history of attempting to eliminate those who resist their financial demands.

During the June 27 detention, multiple suspects with the Safarov surname were apprehended. Ziyadin and Huseyn, aged 55 and 60, respectively, later died under rather mysterious circumstances.

Witnesses have alleged that the Russian police were exceedingly brutal, subjecting detainees to beatings and torture. While Russian officials have acknowledged the deaths of two detainees, they stated one succumbed to a heart attack without providing clarification on the circumstances surrounding the second death.

Azerbaijan’s officials announced on July 1 that post-mortem examinations of the Safarov brothers indicated severe signs of abuse, such as significant blood loss, internal injuries, and fractures, after their bodies were returned to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

As outlined by the Azerbaijani Chief Medical Inspector, the brothers seemed to have suffered from blunt force trauma. Hussein had internal bleeding, damage to his liver and lungs, and a deformed chest. Ziyadin bore numerous bruises and contusions, with one rib completely missing. Both men showed signs of trauma in sensitive areas.

Azerbaijani authorities have initiated a criminal investigation into what they describe as the torture and brutal murder of their citizens in Russia.

The reaction from Azerbaijan has been one of intense anger, especially considering the already strained relationships with Russia, which had been further exacerbated by an incident in December 2024 where a Russian missile shot down an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane, resulting in numerous fatalities.

The distress over the plane shooting and the deaths of the Safarov brothers has sparked a significant diplomatic crisis for Azerbaijan. Some analysts suggest that these incidents represent a breaking point, possibly leading to lasting discord between Azerbaijan and Russia.

Azerbaijan’s outrage has been fueled by the negative responses from Russia regarding both tragic events. In fact, some Russian commentators have suggested that Azerbaijan’s anger is exaggerated, possibly as a pretext to distance itself from Russia.

Considering Azerbaijan’s military victories in Nagorno-Karabakh, increased energy exports to Europe, and strengthened ties with Turkey, Baku seems reluctant to tolerate what it perceives as forced diplomacy from Russia.

Recently, a Russian medical inspector discredited the Azerbaijani findings regarding the Safarov brothers’ deaths, labeling them as “outright falsehoods.” Azerbaijan has countered these claims, alleging that Russian officials may have removed organs during the autopsy to obscure the true cause of death.

Azerbaijan also accused Russia of targeting its citizens on ethnic grounds, but Russian officials countered that the Safarovs were, technically speaking, Russian citizens due to their passports.

Since the June 27 events, Azerbaijan has called off numerous planned visits and cultural exchanges involving Russian officials. Their Ministry of Culture attributed the cancellations to what they termed “extrajudicial killings” committed by Russian law enforcement against Azerbaijanis.

In a recent development, Azerbaijan canceled the visit of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexy Oberchuk, stating that it was inappropriate for Russian officials to visit under the current circumstances.

Additionally, Azerbaijani police have taken action against the offices of Russia’s state-run Sputnik news agency, arresting two employees, including the editor-in-chief. Azerbaijani authorities accused Sputnik of involving itself in illegal fundraising activities after its accreditation was revoked earlier this year. Russia has denounced the arrests as unlawful and an assault on press freedom.