Azerbaijani parliamentarians cancel Moscow visit over ethnic violence in Russia

An Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation, led by First Deputy Speaker of the Milli Majlis Ali Ahmadov, will not participate in the 23rd session of the Azerbaijan-Russia Interparliamentary Cooperation Commission scheduled to be held in Moscow.

The Milli Majlis' press and public relations department said the decision was made in protest against the demonstrative, targeted killings and acts of violence on ethnic grounds committed by law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation against Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg without trial or investigation, as well as the systematic nature of such cases in recent times, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

On June 27, Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) conducted raids on residences of the Azerbaijani Safarov family, resulting in the deaths of two brothers, Huseyn Safarov (an Azerbaijani citizen) and Ziyaddin Safarov (a Russian citizen), severe injuries to several others, and the detention of nine individuals, most of whom were Russian citizens of Azerbaijani origin.

The raids occurred around 5:00 AM, involving FSB officers and the Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR). The Safarov family, originally from Aghdam, Azerbaijan, and engaged in the restaurant business (owning the “Kaspi” restaurant), was targeted. The operation was described as violent, with reports of beatings, torture with electric shocks, and degrading treatment, such as forcing detainees to “eat mud” in transport vehicles. 

Two to five deaths were reported, though only the deaths of Huseyn and Ziyaddin Safarov were consistently confirmed. Nine individuals, primarily from the Safarov family, were detained, with some hospitalized due to serious injuries (e.g., Akif, Ayaz, Kamal, and Mazahir Safarovs). Over 50 Azerbaijanis were reportedly detained in total, though exact numbers vary.

By Khagan Isayev