Azerbaijani NGOs condemn FSB raid in Yekaterinburg as ethnic terror

A recent raid by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in Yekaterinburg targeting Azerbaijani homes has sparked strong condemnation from Azerbaijani civil society organisations. The operation resulted in the deaths and severe injuries of Azerbaijani citizens, as well as the detention of nine individuals. Azerbaijani NGO leaders have denounced the raid as a manifestation of “Great Russian” chauvinism and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

Zaur Ibrahimli, Chairman of the “Priority” Social and Economic Research Center Public Union, described the incident as “not merely an ethnically motivated crime against Azerbaijanis but a clear reflection of the Kremlin’s true attitude and policy toward non-Russian peoples in Russia.”

“This incident exposes the true face of Russian fascism, thinly veiled under serious pretenses. In the 21st century, the world labels this as ‘Rashism,’” Ibrahimli told Azertag, Caliber.Az reports.

He said this ideology is rooted in a discriminatory stance toward other nations and particularly hostile toward Turks and Azerbaijanis.

“We witnessed this during the January 20, 1990, events and the Khojaly genocide. We see it in Russia’s patronage of occupying Armenia. The ethnic terror against Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg is another manifestation of this policy. Let us not forget that Russia has still neither apologized nor accepted responsibility for the downing of an AZAL civilian aircraft on its territory. This policy is directly orchestrated by the Kremlin and fueled by President Vladimir Putin’s stance. Rashism is the Kremlin’s ideology. It is massacring even the brotherly Ukrainian people. It is no coincidence that in Ukraine, Putin is compared to Hitler and called ‘Putler,’” Ibrahimli noted.

Ibrahimli also claimed that Russia’s war policy disproportionately targets non-Russian nationalities.

“This policy will soon fracture Putin’s empire and poses the greatest threat to the Russian people themselves. Rashism deems discrimination and exploitation of other nations acceptable. Renowned publicist and journalist Nevzorov writes that patriotism, chauvinism, and imperialism act like alcohol for the Russian people, replacing everything. Under President Putin’s efforts, this ideology has become toxic and contagious, turning into an epidemic that will destroy Russian society itself, just as the brown plague brought catastrophe to Germany and the world. Rashism is now on this path,” he stated.

Calling for action from Russian society, Ibrahimli urged Russian people to oppose this, “rejecting Putlerism.”

“Azerbaijani society resolutely protests the raid on Azerbaijani homes in Yekaterinburg and the ethnic terror, condemning those who ordered this crime. Azerbaijan’s civil society unequivocally denounces this terror against our compatriots as a crime against humanity. If Russia’s leadership does not support ethnic terror, it must apologize and immediately punish those responsible,” the NGO chairman emphasised.

Jasarat Huseynzade, Chairman of the “Support for Information and Social Initiatives” Public Union, echoed this condemnation. He said the raids reflect a broader, systemic issue within Russian state policy.

“The raids targeting Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg demonstrate once again that repressions against ethnic minorities in Russia are not isolated incidents but the result of a systematic, ideologically driven state policy,” Huseynzade told Azertag.

He added that the incidents in Yekaterinburg must be regarded as crimes against humanity, and those who ordered these crimes should be held accountable under international law. 

By Sabina Mammadli