Tensions Escalate Between Russia and Azerbaijan After Death of Azerbaijani Citizens Under Torture in Russia

Tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan have reached a boiling point after two Azerbaijani citizens were tortured to death during police raids in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The incident has led to a criminal investigation by the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General’s Office and a series of retaliatory measures by Baku, including raids on Russian media outlets and the cancellation of Russian cultural events.

The Incident in Yekaterinburg

On June 27, Russia’s National Guard conducted joint operations in Yekaterinburg, detaining several Azerbaijani citizens and individuals of Azerbaijani origin suspected of involvement in past crimes. During the detention process, law enforcement officers allegedly subjected the detainees to severe beatings and torture. Two brothers, 59-year-old Huseyn Seferov and 55-year-old Ziyaddin Seferov, died as a result of the abuse.

According to forensic reports, Huseyn Seferov died from traumatic and hemorrhagic shock due to multiple rib fractures and other injuries, while Ziyaddin Seferov succumbed to traumatic shock caused by repeated blows. Other Azerbaijani citizens detained during the operation were also reportedly tortured and are currently receiving medical treatment in Russian hospitals.

Adalat Hasanov, head of the Azerbaijani Forensic Medicine Bureau, stated, “Neither of the brothers was killed with a sharp object or a firearm. They were beaten with a hard object.”

Azerbaijan’s Response

In response to the incident, Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office launched a criminal investigation into the deaths. Baku also took retaliatory measures against Russian interests in Azerbaijan, including a police raid on the Baku office of the Russian state news agency Sputnik, where three Russian journalists were detained. Additionally, all Russian cultural events in Azerbaijan were canceled.

Diplomatic Fallout

The Russian Foreign Ministry responded by sending a protest note to Azerbaijan’s ambassador in Moscow, condemning Baku’s “unfriendly actions.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed hope that the situation would be resolved through direct talks, stating, “Such measures against journalists are absolutely contrary to accepted norms and the spirit of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. We hope that this emotional reaction will change in direct contacts, where all questions will be answered. We expect the journalists to be released.”

Background of the Tensions

The incident comes amid already strained relations between the two countries. In December 2024, an Azerbaijani passenger plane was shot at while in Russian airspace, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan demanded an apology and punishment for those responsible, but the request was ignored. Subsequently, Azerbaijan shut down the Russian Cultural Center in Baku, and President Ilham Aliyev declined to attend ceremonies in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Russia’s Position

Russia has maintained that the incident should not escalate further and has called for calm. Peskov emphasized that the actions against Russian journalists were “absolutely contrary to the spirit of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan” and expressed hope that the situation would be resolved through dialogue.