Diplomatic Friction Escalates Over Custody Deaths
The Russian Foreign Ministry has urged Azerbaijan to restore bilateral relations to a level befitting "strategic cooperation," following a significant deterioration in ties sparked by the deaths of two Azerbaijani brothers in Russian police custody last week. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that Moscow values its longstanding partnership with Baku, warning that "certain forces" appear intent on exploiting the situation to undermine this relationship. She stressed that those seeking to "warm their hands" from the discord should reconsider, noting the profound importance of Russo-Azerbaijani friendship for both nations.
The crisis erupted after Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov died following their arrest during police operations in Yekaterinburg. While Russian authorities stated one brother died of heart failure, Azerbaijan conducted independent autopsies revealing "signs of severe violence" and evidence of beatings, leading Baku to open a criminal case for torture and deliberate killing. In response, Azerbaijan detained two Russian state journalists, accusing them of espionage and fraud and approximately 15 other Russians on drug and cybercrime charges. Moscow has condemned these arrests, citing denied consular access and labeling them "unfriendly actions".
Relations have been fragile since December 2024, when an Azerbaijani passenger jet crashed near the Georgia-Russia border, killing 38 people. Baku attributes the disaster to an accidental missile strike by Russian air defenses and is preparing to release its final investigation report shortly. Analysts observe that Azerbaijan, emboldened by military victories in Nagorno-Karabakh and deepened ties with Turkey, is increasingly asserting independence from Moscow’s traditional regional dominance. Zaur Shiriyev of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center notes that Russia’s focus on Ukraine has diminished its influence in the South Caucasus, enabling Baku’s more assertive stance.
Despite tensions, Moscow remains committed to dialogue. The Kremlin aims to negotiate the release of detained journalists and has canceled a planned visit by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk. Zakharova reiterated that strategic partnership, formalized in agreements referencing mutual respect and shared projects like the North-South transport corridor must prevail. She highlighted economic foundations, including 600 Russian companies operating in Azerbaijan and $1.5 billion in Russian investments, as pillars for rebuilding trust.