Azerbaijan denies proposing cultural cooperation initiative with Russia

Azerbaijan’s Culture Ministry has officially denied claims that it allegedly proposed a new cultural cooperation initiative with the Russian Federation, calling the reports based on a forged document.

In a statement released on July 7, the Ministry addressed the circulation of a document on various media platforms and social networks, which falsely alleges that Azerbaijan had initiated efforts to enhance bilateral cultural ties with Russia, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

According to the ministry, the document being circulated is “completely fake and has no relation to the Ministry of Culture. The Ministry did not prepare, sign, or distribute any such proposal, the statement reads. 

Officials emphasised that any genuine information regarding the Ministry’s international activities is communicated through official channels and urged the public and media outlets to verify sources before spreading unconfirmed claims.

Earlier, on June 29 the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture announced the cancellation of all cultural events organised by Russian state and private institutions across Azerbaijan. 

The announcement followed tensions between the two countries, which arose after Russia conducted a law enforcement operation on the morning of June 27 in Yekaterinburg, targeting over ten apartments inhabited by Azerbaijani residents. The Safarov family, originally from Agdam, suffered significant losses during the raids. Two brothers, Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, were killed, while many Azerbaijanis were detained and several others hospitalised due to injuries sustained in the operation.

By Sabina Mammadli