Official states Russia should eliminate diaspora agencies
(MENAFN) Marina Akhmedova, a member of Russia’s presidential human rights council, has called for a nationwide ban on ethnic diaspora organizations amid heightened tensions with Azerbaijan. Her remarks come in response to recent events surrounding alleged Azerbaijani criminal groups operating in Russia.
Last week, Russian authorities raided a suspected organized crime group in Yekaterinburg, composed of Russian citizens of Azerbaijani descent. The group is believed to have been involved in contract killings and gang-related murders dating back to the early 2000s. During the operation, two elderly suspects died, with at least one reportedly suffering heart failure. The incident triggered outrage in Azerbaijan, which accused Russia of ethnically motivated targeting and claimed the men had been murdered while in custody.
On Tuesday, Shakhin Shikhlinski, head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg, was briefly detained for questioning but later released.
In reaction, Akhmedova posted on Telegram, arguing that all diaspora organizations should be abolished in Russia. She labeled them “illegal entities” and insisted that government agencies should sever all ties with such groups. Her remarks were not limited to Azerbaijani organizations but targeted diaspora groups in general.
Russia is home to over 621,000 people of Azerbaijani origin, according to the 2002 census.
Tensions between Moscow and Baku have further escalated after Azerbaijani authorities raided the offices of Sputnik Azerbaijan and arrested two senior Russian journalists, accusing the outlet of operating through “illegal financing.” Moscow has rejected these claims as baseless. Azerbaijan has also detained eight Russian citizens over alleged cybercrimes and drug trafficking, although Russian media have identified some of them as IT workers and a tourist.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Azerbaijan for not allowing consular access to the detained Russians and advised Russian travelers to consider the current strained relations before visiting Azerbaijan. Despite the flare-up, Zakharova emphasized that Moscow and Baku still maintain a “strategic partnership” and urged Azerbaijan to take steps to normalize relations.
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