Azerbaijan Launches Major Crackdown on Russian Propaganda Outlets, Detains FSB Agents
On Monday, June 30, Azerbaijan’s law enforcement agencies carried out a surprise and decisive raid on the office of the Russian information agency 'Sputnik Azerbaijan' in the capital city, Baku. This operation marked a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between Baku and Moscow, fueled by suspicions that Russian intelligence agencies are operating on Azerbaijani territory under the guise of journalistic activities. According to sources, two FSB officers working within the media center were detained during the search, triggering a strong reaction domestically. Previously, in February, Azerbaijani authorities had decided to shut down 'Sputnik Azerbaijan,' a branch of the international news agency 'Russia Today.' The official reasoning was to establish a balance between the number of Azerbaijani journalists abroad and the influence of foreign media within the country. Despite this, reports indicate that the media outlet continued its operations — a development that angered many and raised concerns about foreign influence. The context also includes recent developments in Russia — raids by the FSB in Yekaterinburg during the investigation into the 24-year-old murder of Yunus Pashayev, where at least 50 individuals were detained, including brothers Gussein and Ziyaddin Safarov, who lost their lives during the operation. These events prompted the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry to summon the Russian chargé d’affaires to Baku to express strong protests. Additionally, Azerbaijan canceled all upcoming cultural events, including concerts, exhibitions, and festivals involving Russian organizations, as a response to Russia’s actions. Furthermore, the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation decided to cancel its planned visit to Moscow for inter-parliamentary cooperation meetings, indicating a firm stance in counteracting Russian influence in the region.