"Russian House" in Baku suspends activities following Azerbaijani government request

The representative office of Rossotrudnichestvo in Azerbaijan, known as the "Russian House," has announced the suspension of its operations in Baku.

The decision comes after a formal request from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports.

In a statement issued by the representative office, it was confirmed that the "Russian House" is taking steps to comply with the Azerbaijani government's directive.

"In response to the demand of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the representative office of 'Rossotrudnichestvo' – the 'Russian House' in Baku is taking measures to suspend its activities," the statement reads.

Earlier, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aykhan Hajizada said that the “Russian House” operating in Azerbaijan seriously violates the legislation of Azerbaijan.

“The activities of such organizations in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan are regulated in accordance with national legislation, the principle of reciprocity between countries, and the requirements of agreements reached on a bilateral basis,” he said responding to local media reports on the decision to suspend the activities of Russia’s “Rossotrudnichestvo” agency.

Hajizada went on to say: “After the Russian side was informed that the Russian Information and Cultural Centre – ‘Russian House,’ the representative office of ‘Rossotrudnichestvo’ in Azerbaijan, did not have registration as a legal entity and the organization has been seriously violating Azerbaijani legislation, a note verbale was sent to the Russian side on February 3, 2025, terminating the activities of ‘Russian House’”.

“Thus, based on the decision of the Azerbaijani side to terminate the activities of the ‘Russian House’ in our country, it is expected that the Russian side will take appropriate measures in this direction,” the diplomat added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev