The deaths of two brothers in Russian custody have ignited a diplomatic crisis between Azerbaijan and Russia, highlighting the erosion of Moscow's influence in the region. Azerbaijan accuses Russia of torture, resulting in a swift backlash that tests the strength of their previously close relations.
Rising Tensions: Azerbaijan Challenges Russian Authority Following Custody Deaths
Rising Tensions: Azerbaijan Challenges Russian Authority Following Custody Deaths
Diplomatic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan deteriorate as two ethnic Azerbaijanis die in Russian custody, sparking allegations of abuse and fostering anti-Moscow sentiment in Baku.
Tensions escalated dramatically this week between Russia and Azerbaijan following the deaths of two ethnic Azerbaijanis, provoking accusations of torture and murder. The brothers, Huseyn and Ziyaddin Safarov, were detained by Russian authorities during an investigation of long-unsolved criminal cases in Yekaterinburg, where they were originally apprehended.
According to Russian investigators, one brother succumbed to heart failure, while the cause of the second brother's death remains under investigation. Russia's subsequent charge of six other Azerbaijani detainees with murder only intensified backlash from Azerbaijan's government, which vehemently contested the account provided by Moscow. The state prosecutor in Baku asserted that the Safarov brothers had faced “torture and murder with extreme cruelty,” prompting an official investigation into their deaths.
In response to these allegations, Azerbaijani media outlets condemned Russia for purportedly targeting ethnic minorities, branding it as a sign of “chauvinist policies” intended to suppress dissent. This incident reveals the rapidly declining influence Russia holds over Azerbaijan, a nation it once considered a reliable ally in the aftermath of the Soviet Union's dissolution.
Just ahead of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia and Azerbaijan had reaffirmed their partnership through a declaration emphasizing allied interaction. However, this recent upheaval demonstrates the fragility of that relationship, as Baku's swift and fierce response signifies a newfound willingness to challenge Moscow.
As Azerbaijan braces for potential fallout from this diplomatic crisis, observers are keenly watching how the interplay of power dynamics will unfold in the South Caucasus, where Russia's previously unshakeable grip is now being questioned like never before.
