Recent events have cast a shadow over Azerbaijan-Russia relations. Due to an incident involving the arrest of members of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg, Azerbaijan has decided to cancel the visit of Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, previously scheduled for the end of June. Reports suggest that this decision was influenced by the scale and severity of the crackdown on the diaspora, which resulted in multiple arrests and even fatalities.
The Azerbaijani government views the situation as detrimental to diplomatic relations and has ceased all joint cultural activities with Russia, including concerts, festivals, and exhibitions. They cited "deliberate extrajudicial killings and acts of violence committed by Russian law enforcement against Azerbaijanis based on their ethnicity" as reasons for this action. This dissolution of upcoming events marks a significant stance against what they perceive as systemic abuse.
In addition to canceling Overchuk’s visit, Azerbaijan also postponed a parliamentary delegation headed by Deputy Speaker Ali Ahmadov from attending an inter-parliamentary cooperation commission meeting in Moscow. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged strong protests against Russia’s actions and has demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.
The incident that sparked these reactions began with FSB raids during which several members of the Azerbaijani community were detained in connection to unresolved cases of murder dating back to previous years. As tensions rise, both governments are now navigating an increasingly delicate and hostile environment.
The broader implications of this diplomatic rift, particularly in terms of regional stability and cultural exchange, remain to be seen, but both Russia and Azerbaijan face mounting pressures in managing internal and external perceptions as events unfold.
