Russia-Azerbaijan tension escalates following deadly Russian police operation
(MENAFN) Tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan have sharply escalated following a deadly Russian police operation targeting an alleged ethnic Azerbaijani crime network. The incident, which left two suspects dead, has triggered a wave of retaliatory measures from Baku and deepened diplomatic strains between the two countries.
The friction began last week when Russian authorities carried out a raid in the city of Yekaterinburg as part of an investigation into a series of murders believed to be gang-related contract killings dating back to the early 2000s. The suspects were allegedly tied to an organized crime ring with ethnic Azerbaijani roots.
Two elderly men, identified as brothers Gusein and Zieddin Safarov, died during the operation. Russian officials later stated that one of them died of heart failure. Six other individuals—all Russian citizens—have been detained and placed in pre-trial custody. Due to the international backlash, the case has since been escalated to the central office of Russia’s Investigative Committee.
The fallout has been swift and severe. Public outrage erupted in Azerbaijan, with politicians and commentators accusing Russian authorities of singling out suspects based on ethnicity rather than solid evidence. Calls for retaliation against Moscow quickly gained traction.
In response, Azerbaijan has taken a series of confrontational steps. The Ministry of Culture canceled events involving Russian artists, and a planned visit by the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation to Moscow was called off. On Monday, Azerbaijan’s food safety authority announced the destruction of over 600 kilograms of Russian-imported onion rings, claiming they were contaminated with bacteria.
The unfolding diplomatic dispute highlights the fragility of relations between the two nations, especially when ethnic sensitivities and internal law enforcement actions cross international lines.
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