Pro-Pakistan Azerbaijan now clashes with Russia. Plane crashes, police actions, and raids on Sputnik's office have soured relations. Russia is further inflamed by Ukraine's involvement.
Azebaijan Russia Tension: Azerbaijan, which previously appeared to support Pakistan against India, has now become embroiled in a major international tension itself. Its relations with Russia have deteriorated to the point where both countries are taking harsh actions against each other's citizens. These events have brought a new twist to regional diplomacy.
Azerbaijan-Pakistan-Turkey Axis and Anti-India Stance
During the tensions between India and Pakistan, Azerbaijan openly supported Pakistan. The trilateral axis of Turkey, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan has been engaging in diplomatic rhetoric against India. Azerbaijan, in particular, sided with Pakistan on several occasions, especially on the Kashmir issue. However, now that it is embroiled in disputes with Russia, its position appears to be weakening.
The Beginning of the Russia-Azerbaijan Clash
The tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan began on December 25, 2024. A passenger jet of Azerbaijan Airlines, en route from Baku to Grozny (Chechnya), was hit by a Russian air defense missile and crashed in Kazakhstan. 38 people were killed in this accident.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called the incident "unfortunate" and apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, but he did not take any responsibility for the accident. Aliyev reacted sharply to this and accused Russia of suppressing the incident.
Aliyev Refuses to Visit Russia
After this incident, in May 2025, Russia invited Aliyev to participate in the Victory Day parade, but he declined the invitation. Following this, the visit of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister to Azerbaijan in June further strained the situation.
Russian Actions Against Azerbaijani Citizens
On June 27, police raided the homes of citizens of Azerbaijani origin in the city of Yekaterinburg, Russia. The raid was allegedly related to a decades-old murder case. Two Azerbaijani brothers, Hussein and Ziyaddin Safarov, died in the raid. Later, the post-mortem revealed that they had died from police beatings. After this incident, Azerbaijan canceled all official meetings and cultural events with Russia.
Azerbaijan's Actions Against Russian Media
On July 1, Azerbaijani police raided the office of the Russian news agency 'Sputnik' in the capital Baku and arrested seven employees. Along with this, eight Russian IT experts were also taken into custody on charges of drug trafficking and cybercrime. When the pictures of these people after being beaten up went viral on social media, outrage erupted in Russia and there were demands for strict action.
Russia's Reaction and Retaliation
Russia immediately reacted by arresting a leader of the Azerbaijani community in Yekaterinburg and his son. The viral video showed how special forces broke the glass of their car and pulled them out. Azerbaijan bly objected to this and demanded justice for the deaths of its citizens.
Increasing Discord in Diplomatic Relations
Following the arrest of Russian journalists in Azerbaijan, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Azerbaijani ambassador in Baku to protest. In response, Azerbaijan also summoned the Russian ambassador and demanded an investigation into the atrocities of the Russian police, punishment for the perpetrators, and compensation for the victim's families.
