Azerbaijani journalist says relatives under pressure after deadly FSB raid in Russia

Following a deadly raid by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in the city of Yekaterinburg, relatives of Azerbaijani journalist Seyfaddin Huseynli have reportedly come under pressure and are living in fear. The operation, carried out on June 27, resulted in the deaths of three Azerbaijani nationals — two of whom were brothers of Huseynli, the deputy editor-in-chief of a local newspaper.

Huseynli described the incident as a devastating ordeal but said he felt the support of the Azerbaijani state, Caliber.Az reports, citing Report.

“Immediately after the incident, representatives of several government agencies reached out to me. My relatives in Russia are already feeling the attention and support of the state. The Embassy of Azerbaijan, the Consulate General (in Yekaterinburg — Ed.), as well as the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, are keeping the situation under control,” he said.

Huseynli also revealed that another relative, Kamal Safarov, had been subjected to torture during the operation, while the fate of several other family members remains unknown.

“Negotiations are underway for the release of the bodies of the deceased, but the Russian side is citing fabricated reasons for the delay,” Huseynli noted. “They are trying to portray the incident as a criminal dispute. False information is being spread, claiming they died of heart attacks. Overall, the Russian side is demonstrating biased behaviour. Relatives, including women, children, and the elderly, are under pressure and living in fear.”

To recall, on June 27, FSB officers carried out a raid on homes inhabited by Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg. As a result, three people were killed and several others detained. On June 28, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding the incident, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan, Pyotr Volokovikh, was summoned to the Ministry in Baku.

Azerbaijan called on the Russian authorities to launch a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the incident and to hold all those responsible fully accountable. 

By Vugar Khalilov