Azerbaijan calls Russia's move against MP as unfriendly step

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has confirmed that MP Azer Badamov was denied entry into Russia upon arrival in Moscow, with Baku calling the move an unfriendly step and demanding an official explanation from Moscow. 

Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada said that Badamov was part of an Azerbaijani delegation traveling to the Russian city of Astrakhan to attend commemorative events marking the 102nd anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev’s birth, Caliber.Az reports, citing the ministry.

The visit was organized at the official invitation of Denis Afanasyev, Deputy Governor of the Astrakhan Region. Despite the formal invitation, Russian authorities detained Badamov at a Moscow airport without prior notice or explanation, informing him that he was banned from entering the country. He was later sent back to Azerbaijan.

Hajizada noted that Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Moscow immediately contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry. While the Russian side confirmed that the case would be investigated, it did not provide any reasons for the entry ban. 

"We consider this action by the Russian side an unfriendly step and expect an official explanation from Moscow," the spokesman said.

An Azerbaijani delegation traveling to Russia for events commemorating the anniversary of Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev’s birth faced an unexpected disruption when Badamov was detained at Moscow Airport and denied entry into the country.

Badamov was prevented from boarding a flight to Astrakhan and informed that he had been placed on Russia’s “blacklist.” The ban on his entry could be related to his public remarks in response to comments made by Russian MP Nikolai Valuev. Valuev’s statements were widely perceived as offensive to the Azerbaijani people and government, prompting Badamov’s outspoken criticism. 

While speaking on the issue of the closure of the Russian information and cultural center, “Russian House”, which is the representative office of the “Rossotrudnichestvo” agency in Azerbaijan, Russian State Duma member Nikolai Valuev voiced offensive statements against Azerbaijan and its people.  Valuev made threats about closing Azerbaijani diaspora organisations in Russia, restricting businesses, deporting Azerbaijanis who are illegally residing in the country, as well as placing those legally residing on military duty and sending them to the front.

By Naila Huseynova