Baku notifies Moscow about termination of Rossotrudnichestvo's activity in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has sent an official notification to Russia via diplomatic channels about the termination of activity of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) on its territory, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Given that a similar decision was previously made regarding the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) — even before President Donald Trump’s inauguration and his subsequent move to eliminate the agency — this step further demonstrates that Azerbaijan is steadfast in safeguarding its national interests and is no longer willing to tolerate external interference, regardless of its origin, the media report said.

“Azerbaijan itself has become a donor and does not need help from outside, especially if it is provided on the basis of non-transparent schemes and through organisations whose structure is clearly of an intelligence nature,” the report added.

In June 2024, Azerbaijan suspended its cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This decision was publicly announced by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on January 16, 2025, during a joint press conference with his Georgian counterpart, Maka Bochorishvili. Bayramov stated that from June 1, 2024, USAID would no longer have any legal basis to operate in Azerbaijan. He explained that Azerbaijan had chosen not to extend the framework agreement signed in 2000, which regulated USAID's activities in the country.

The review revealed that USAID's activities were more focused on promoting U.S. objectives rather than addressing Azerbaijan's needs. 

The agreement had expired in February 2023, and the official decision not to renew it followed a thorough review of the agency's actions.

According to Bayramov, the audit revealed that USAID's activities were increasingly inconsistent with Azerbaijan's national interests. He explained, "In recent years, the agency's efforts were primarily aimed at advancing the US's own agenda, without regard for the needs and priorities of Azerbaijan." Bayramov further emphasized that the US administration had attempted to pressure Azerbaijan and impose its own terms.

"And when we made it fully clear for ourselves, after June 1, 2024, the Azerbaijani side decided not to extend the term of this agreement," Bayramov added.

By Khagan Isayev