Ukrainian MP slams Russia’s ethnic persecution of Azerbaijanis, backs Baku’s firm response

Oleksii Goncharenko, a member of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, has strongly condemned the recent ethnically motivated persecutions targeting Azerbaijanis in Russia, describing the Azerbaijani government’s tough reaction as “very correct.”

“All this is yet another proof that Russia is a xenophobic empire. Here they are constantly looking for an alien, different person who is to blame for everything,” Goncharenko stated, while speaking on the incident in Yekaterinburg where Azerbaijani nationals faced violent repression,  Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

He underscored the long-standing pattern of scapegoating minorities within Russia, noting that while Ukrainians and Baltic peoples were previously targeted, Azerbaijanis have now become victims of this systemic practice.

“Unfortunately, this is a practice they regularly carry out,” Goncharenko remarked. He applauded Azerbaijan’s decisive response, highlighting the cancellation of planned Russian events and the demand for a thorough investigation.

“The only language Moscow understands is the language of force, and Azerbaijan behaves very honourably in this sense,” he added.

By Vafa Guliyeva