Russia Claims It Still Cannot Access Detained Citizens in Azerbaijan Amid Rising Tensions

Reported by Kokcha News Agency:
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has stated that it has not been able to contact its citizens detained in Azerbaijan, amid growing diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The situation worsened after two Azerbaijanis were allegedly tortured to death in Russia last weekend during police raids in Yekaterinburg.

In response, Azerbaijani authorities raided the office of the Russian state news agency Sputnik in Baku and detained three Russian journalists. Additionally, all Russian cultural events in Azerbaijan were canceled.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has since sent a protest note to Azerbaijan’s embassy in Moscow, condemning Baku’s “unfriendly actions.”

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan announced that it had dismantled two organized crime groups consisting of Russian citizens and detained 15 individuals allegedly involved in drug trafficking and cybercrimes.

Call for Diplomatic Resolution
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called for the two countries to return to a level of strategic cooperation, emphasizing the need to de-escalate tensions.

The 2024 Plane Crash Incident
The recent tensions trace back to a plane crash in December 2024, which killed 38 passengers and injured 29 others. New information has emerged in the Azerbaijani media suggesting that the Russian military ordered a missile strike on the plane, flight number 8243, which crashed in Aktau, Kazakhstan.

Investigation into Torture and Killings
Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office has also held a press conference regarding the alleged torture and killings of Azerbaijani citizens in Russia. Nemat Avazov, head of the Investigative Department, stated that nearly 100 expert examinations have been requested in connection with the plane crash, most of which have already been completed.