MP hits back at Russian propagandist's remarks on Azerbaijani-owned companies “Legal nihilism and the degradation of the State Duma”

Nizami Safarov, a member of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, put Russian MP and television host-propagandist Yevgeny Popov in his place after Popov hinted at possible reprisals against Russian businessmen of Azerbaijani descent in his Telegram channel.

Let us remind you, Popov wrote: "If Azerbaijan really shuts down the Rossotrudnichestvo representation, at least two major companies in Russia will feel it. 'Kievskaya Ploshchad,' it seems, is planning to rebuild the SEV building? We need to find another contractor. And the parking situation at the Hotel Ukraina is a mess. 'Crocus' is building campuses at the state's expense? I think there will be plenty of people eager for these contracts. That's the way it is. Tit for tat."

In response, Safarov wrote on his Facebook page: "It is more likely that Popov himself will be shut down, rather than 'Kievskaya Ploshchad,' the Hotel Ukraina, or the Sadovod market. If the propagandist MP is unaware of who owns these properties, he should inquire about this from those who provide him with daily talking points and guidelines to work on.

It concerns private business and private property, and if MPs from 'United Russia' are calling for discrimination against investments and businesses owned by Russian citizens of Azerbaijani descent, this is nothing but legal nihilism. The fact that such talking points are voiced by MPs from the ruling Russian party speaks to the complete degradation and deplorable state of the State Duma."

The termination of Rossotrudnichestvo’s activities in Azerbaijan follows a series of diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian federal agency responsible for fostering ties with Russian-speaking communities abroad, has long operated in several former Soviet republics, including Azerbaijan. The agency’s activities are often seen as part of Russia's broader strategy to maintain influence in its near abroad, particularly in countries with significant Russian diaspora populations.

The decision to close Rossotrudnichestvo’s office in Azerbaijan, along with the shutdown of the "Russian House" in Baku, is a direct response to violations of Azerbaijani laws. Azerbaijani authorities have raised concerns over the lack of proper legal registration for these Russian cultural and informational entities, which they argue are operating in breach of national regulations. The Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Aykhan Hajizada, emphasized that such actions are taken within the framework of Azerbaijani national laws, which are aligned with international norms of reciprocity between states.

By Vugar Khalilov