Russian transport minister’s adviser resigns after anti-Azerbaijani statements

Alexey Chadayev, an adviser to Russia’s transport minister, has resigned from his position after previously making statements targeting Azerbaijan.

Chadayev announced his decision on his Telegram channel, saying he had decided to step down as an adviser to the Russian transport minister, Report informs.

His resignation comes a day after Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office placed three Russian citizens on an international wanted list over alleged public calls for terrorism.

The individuals named by the Azerbaijani authorities are Ivan Knyazev, a presenter on the Moscow 24 television channel; political consultant and media expert Semyon Uralov; and Chadayev, who also works as a television journalist and correspondent.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, a preliminary investigation is underway into a criminal case concerning public calls for the violent overthrow of Azerbaijan’s constitutional order, violations of the country’s territorial integrity, incitement of national hatred and enmity, and public calls for terrorism.

The development also comes amid growing tensions over anti-Azerbaijani rhetoric in parts of the Russian media.

On August 18, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Mikhail Yevdokimov and conveyed a resolute protest over what it described as provocative, insulting and threatening statements targeting Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani people and the country’s leadership in the Russian media and information space.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said such statements were unacceptable and called on the Russian side to take appropriate measures.