Azerbaijan calls on Russia to avoid escalatory rhetoric over detained nationals

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has dismissed recent allegations from the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Secretary and the Russian Embassy concerning the treatment of Russian citizens in Azerbaijan.

Aykhan Hajizada, Head of the Press Service Department, responded to the statements made on July 2, calling the claims "unfounded," Caliber.Az reports, citing the Foreign Ministry.

He said, “The allegations made by the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Russian Embassy in our country on July 2 that law enforcement agencies allegedly used physical force against Russian citizens visiting Azerbaijan and their family members, as well as that Azerbaijan did not respond to official appeals from Russia regarding the provision of consular support to arrested Russian citizens, are unfounded.”

Hajizada reiterated Azerbaijan’s official position on the groups detained in the country and on Russian citizens working for the “Sputnik-Azerbaijan” branch, which he described as operating illegally.

Regarding consular matters, he stated that "the appeals of the Russian side received by the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan on June 30 and July 1 were immediately transmitted to the relevant state body, and the appropriate information on the identity of the arrested persons and the competent body conducting the investigation was provided to the Russian side in accordance with Article 39, paragraph 1 of the Consular Convention between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation."

He further noted, “In general, the Russian side is aware of the period for considering the appeals in accordance with the Convention.”

Hajizada also criticised Russia for delays in responding to Azerbaijani requests. “It should be noted that the Azerbaijani side has never publicised and politicised the weeks-long delays in Russia’s responses to our repeated appeals for organising consular meetings with Azerbaijani citizens detained and held in prisons in various cities of Russia.”

Concluding his remarks, Hajizada urged restraint, saying, “Taking into account the abovementioned, we call on the Russian side to refrain from steps and statements that artificially aggravate the situation.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev