Revival of anti-Azerbaijani sentiment in Russia Who is stirring up a two-year-old video?

The controversy surrounding the recent incident with Azerbaijani students at the Moscow University of Finance and Law (MFUA), who were seen holding a harmless slogan – “Yaşasın Azərbaycan!” (“Long live Azerbaijan!”) – was still fresh when someone suddenly claimed it indicated “public calls for terrorist activities.” As a result, the Russian Investigative Committee conducted an inquiry but found no evidence of extremism. However, in Russian Telegram channels, a campaign to defame Azerbaijanis living in Russia has once again gained traction.

On November 25, a video showing the brutal beating of Slavic schoolchildren by individuals of non-Slavic appearance was shared on social media. It was specifically emphasized that members of the Azerbaijani fight club "AZE Pride" in Balashikha were allegedly involved in the assault. "Two of them are currently 19 years old, while two others are 10 and 14 years old. One of them has already been detained and taken to the Investigative Committee," the statement reads. Armenian Telegram channels have already picked up the video, which has started actively spreading anti-Azerbaijani comments in Russian public forums.

And lo and behold, once again, there was an immediate response from the leadership of the Russian Investigative Committee.

"Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, requested a report on the progress of the criminal investigation into the case of teenagers being beaten by their peers. Social media reports stated that a group of children in Balashikha, Moscow Region, attacked local schoolchildren and assaulted them. The beating was recorded on video. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in the Moscow Region has opened a criminal case under Article 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('Hooliganism'). Alexander Bastrykin instructed the acting head of the Main Investigative Department of the Russian Investigative Committee for the Moscow Region, Yaroslav Yakovlev, to submit a report on the progress of the investigation and the established facts," the press service of the Investigative Committee told the Moscow news agency, adding that the central office of the agency has taken control of the execution of this order.

Undoubtedly, the events in Balashikha are indefensible – the brutal beating of schoolchildren deserves the strongest condemnation, and if investigators find evidence of criminal activity, those responsible must be punished. This is unquestionable. However, the crux of the situation is that even though individuals of various nationalities were involved in the assault (including, according to some reports, an Armenian, a Dagestani, and a Moldovan), the focus of public outrage has been skillfully directed solely at Azerbaijanis. But that’s not all.

As our fellow countrymen living in Balashikha told a Caliber.Az correspondent, the video footage that caused a public outcry, was filmed two years ago. According to them, there are parties in Russia today who benefit from inflaming anti-Azerbaijani sentiments.

"If you look closely at the video footage, you'll notice, first of all, that the fight involved not only Azerbaijanis – there were representatives of various nationalities.

Secondly, the 'AZE Pride' club has been closed for several years – it shut down after its owner, Rahib Bayramov, was convicted. But someone, it seems, wants to blame everything on 'AZE Pride.'

Thirdly, the video shows a typical peer fight, but someone is trying to present it in a different light. In Russia, some forces are currently trying to play the interethnic card. As you know, just a few days ago, an attempt to link this incident to young Azerbaijanis studying at the Moscow University of Finance and Law failed. That attempt was thwarted, and now, it seems, Armenian and sympathetic websites and organizations in Russia are trying to stir up yet another anti-Azerbaijani campaign," one of the Azerbaijanis from Balashikha told us.

According to another of our fellow countrymen, the video footage that was shared today was filmed two years ago.

"The fight involving representatives of various nationalities took place in the Yantarny district of Balashikha. Apparently, someone kept those footage, and they were released online today. There is already one detained, a 17-year-old," he said.

Let us emphasize again: we in no way support or condone violence, especially against minors. Neither in Russia, Azerbaijan, nor anywhere else. However, we feel it is our duty to highlight the dangerous trend of inflaming an aggressive anti-Azerbaijani hysteria in Russia. What stands out is the fact that behind the social media manipulations and media provocations are not only Russian nationalist groups, but also Armenian ones. Interestingly, these groups forget that, should anything happen, in Russia people will be targeted based on their face, not their passport. As for the Russian investigative authorities, they should dig deeper and find out who benefits from stirring up interethnic discord in a multinational country.