Azerbaijan on Wednesday summoned Russia’s ambassador as tensions escalated over the deaths of two Azerbaijani nationals in Russian police custody, calling Moscow’s clarification of the incident unacceptable and demanding accountability.
In a sharply worded assertion, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry stated Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov met with Russian Ambassador Mikhail Yevdokimov to protest what it described as “illegal actions” by Russian regulation enforcement. Baku rejected Moscow’s account—offered in a diplomatic notice the day prior—saying it contradicted “obvious signs of violence” discovered on the our bodies of the victims.
“It was reiterated that Azerbaijan expects a comprehensive and objective investigation from Russia into the violations committed by Russian law enforcement authorities and the punishment of those responsible,” the assertion learn.
The victims, two Azerbaijani brothers, died final week throughout police raids within the Russian metropolis of Yekaterinburg as a part of a homicide investigation. Russian officers stated one man died of coronary heart failure however gave no official trigger for the opposite’s loss of life. Baku, nonetheless, alleges the lads have been tortured and crushed.
The incident has sparked a wave of diplomatic friction, with Azerbaijan condemning perceived ethnic intolerance in Russian media and rejecting the usage of phrases like “ethnic criminal group” in reference to Azerbaijanis. The ministry additionally criticized Moscow for suggesting Azerbaijan was interfering in Russian inside affairs, calling the accusation baseless.
On Tuesday, Russia had summoned Azerbaijan’s ambassador in Moscow, lodging a protest over what it termed “unfriendly” actions by Baku—together with the current arrests of Russian journalists and different nationals in Azerbaijan on fraud, drug trafficking and cybercrime fees.
Further inflaming tensions, Azerbaijan additionally accused Russia of distorting info associated to a lethal aircraft crash in Kazakhstan final 12 months that killed 38 folks aboard an Azerbaijani plane. Baku reiterated its demand for a clear investigation, saying Russian remarks on the case have been “unfounded.”
The deepening rift underscores Azerbaijan’s rising assertiveness within the area. Analysts say Baku, emboldened by army successes in opposition to Armenia and nearer ties with Türkiye, is more and more pushing again in opposition to Moscow’s waning affect.
Zaur Shiriyev, a non-resident scholar on the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, famous that Azerbaijan now not views its relationship with Moscow as one-sided. “At this point, Russia’s loss of dominance in the South Caucasus seems hard to reverse,” he stated, pointing to Moscow’s preoccupation with the battle in Ukraine. “Azerbaijan’s more assertive actions are a response to this shift.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova insisted that relations between the 2 international locations stay primarily based on mutual respect. She warned in opposition to exterior forces searching for to take advantage of the present tensions.
“Those who want to spoil [the relationship] should think carefully about what they are doing,” Zakharova instructed Sputnik Radio.
Azerbaijani officers, in the meantime, stated they count on to launch findings quickly from their investigation into the December 2023 aircraft crash.
Source: www.dailysabah.com