Azerbaijan announced the cancellation of numerous cultural events organized by Russian entities, in protest against the killing of two Azerbaijani citizens following police raids in Russia’s city of Yekaterinburg, as stated by Azerbaijani authorities on Sunday.
The Azerbaijani Culture Ministry made a declaration on X, expressing that concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and performances had been called off due to what it described as “targeted and extrajudicial killings” of Azerbaijanis by Russian law enforcement, citing ethnic discrimination as the motivator for such acts.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported that Russian authorities conducted raids on Azerbaijani residences in Yekaterinburg, located in Russia’s Ural Mountains, leading to the deaths of two individuals, serious injuries to others, and the detention of nine people.
On Saturday, the Azerbaijani officials summoned Pyotr Volokovykh, the Russian Embassy’s chargé d’affaires in Baku, demanding a comprehensive investigation and accountability for those involved in the incident.
The deceased were identified as Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, both approximately 60 years old. Their brother, Sayfaddin Huseynli, speaking to the Azerbaijani public broadcaster ITV, alleged that the men were brutally killed “without trial or investigation,” despite their innocence. He characterized the raids as barbaric, alleging that detainees were physically abused and subjected to electric shocks.
“These Russian law enforcement personnel invaded homes at night, mercilessly dragging people out like animals,” Huseynli stated.
In response, the Azerbaijani government has also canceled the proposed visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, stating through state media that it is inappropriate for Overchuk or any other Russian representatives to visit Azerbaijan under the present conditions.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry expressed its expectation for an investigation, insisting that those responsible for the violence should be brought to justice urgently.
Although the Russian Foreign Ministry, through spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, refrained from addressing the reported deaths, she mentioned that the raids were part of investigations related to previous crimes. Zakharova elaborated that the detentions targeted Russian citizens of Azerbaijani descent.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia have been strained in recent months. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev notably declined an invitation to Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow in May. Conversely, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Baku later, illustrating a strengthening of ties between Azerbaijan and Ukraine.
Tensions between Moscow and Baku escalated after an Azerbaijani airliner tragically crashed in Kazakhstan in December, resulting in the deaths of 38 passengers out of 67 onboard. Aliyev contended that the plane was unintentionally downed through electronic warfare, allegedly orchestrated by Russia. Although President Putin expressed apologies to Aliyev for the “tragic incident,” he did not concede liability for the mishap.
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