A Major Diplomatic Crisis Erupts Between Azerbaijan and Russia Over Tragic Events in Yekaterinburg
Amid recent developments in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where mass arrests of Azerbaijani citizens occurred and several of them died during a special operation by Russian authorities, a significant diplomatic conflict has ignited between the two nations. Unexpectedly for the international community, Azerbaijan issued a sharp protest against the actions of Russian law enforcement, condemning what it called gross human rights violations and blatant acts of violence. Azerbaijani officials stated that those detained in Yekaterinburg were subjected to brutal beatings, and several have disappeared without a trace. This situation has triggered widespread outrage and condemnation from Azerbaijani diplomacy, including summoning the Russian ambassador, Petr Volokhov, to demand a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible. In response, Azerbaijan canceled all planned cultural events involving Russian institutions and suspended diplomatic visits, including the visit of its parliamentary delegation to Moscow. The events in Russia have raised serious concerns over the treatment of Azerbaijani minorities and highlighted tensions in bilateral relations. The incident in Yekaterinburg exposed ongoing issues of rights violations and aggressive law enforcement practices targeting Azerbaijani citizens, adding new strain to an already fragile relationship between the two countries.