Kathrine Frich
Two detained individuals reportedly died in custody.
Two detained individuals reportedly died in custody.
Cultural Ties Severed Amid Ethnic Tensions
Azerbaijan has announced the cancellation of all Russian cultural events across the country.
The move comes in direct response to a spate of police raids in Russia targeting Azerbaijani citizens, which Azerbaijani officials describe as “demonstrative targeted and extrajudicial killings and acts of violence.”
According to Digi 24, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture cancelled all concerts, exhibitions, and other events organized by Russian state and private entities have been scrapped.
The decision, unprecedented in recent years of pragmatic cooperation, underscores how deep the diplomatic rift has become.
Police Raids in Russia Spark Outrage
The immediate trigger for Baku’s decision was a crackdown in Yekaterinburg, where dozens of Azerbaijanis were arrested last week in connection with an unresolved homicide case.
Two of the detained individuals reportedly died in custody, while several others were injured.
Azerbaijani officials have framed the actions of Russian law enforcement as ethnically motivated and violent.
While the Kremlin expressed regret over Azerbaijan’s reaction, Russian nationalist commentators defended the raids as necessary crime-fighting measures.
The disparity in narratives has only added to the growing mistrust between the two sides.
Moscow Calls for Calm, Baku Remains Defiant
In an attempt to deescalate the situation, the Kremlin urged observers to “correctly understand” the events and reiterated its desire to continue developing relations with Azerbaijan.
However, Baku’s sweeping cancellation of Russian cultural programming suggests that the response is far from conciliatory.
The breakdown is particularly notable given the countries’ past cooperation on energy, trade, and regional security within forums such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Sputnik Office Sealed in Baku
Azerbaijani police sealed off the office of the Russian state news agency Sputnik in Baku.
Footage released by local media shows law enforcement surrounding the building, with no clarification offered for the action.
According to RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, Sputnik staff have not been reachable since the incident, raising concerns in Moscow about their safety.
Russian Journalists Blocked from Consular Access
Azerbaijani authorities have also denied Russian diplomats access to the detained journalist.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, confirmed that consular staff were barred from seeing detained employees of Russian state media, adding that diplomats were left without explanation.
The Russian embassy has raised the issue with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, Internal Affairs Ministry, and State Security Service, but has yet to receive a formal response.
A Relationship at the Brink
Once seen as pragmatic partners navigating a complex geopolitical neighborhood, Russia and Azerbaijan now appear on the brink of a diplomatic freeze.
What began as isolated incidents, arrests in Russia and media restrictions in Baku—has rapidly escalated into a full-blown rupture, marked by cultural boycotts and diplomatic shutdowns.
