The Kremlin to Use Every Means at Its Disposal to Defend Russian Citizens Held in Azerbaijan
Some Russian citizens detained in Azerbaijan, July 1, 2025. X/ @PeteLiquid
July 2, 2025 Hour: 8:22 am
Russian authorities are in contact with Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general to resolve problematic issues between the two countries.
On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia will defend by all available means the interests of its citizens detained in Azerbaijan, a country with which Russia is embroiled in a diplomatic dispute.
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The Kremlin has seen images released by Azerbaijani press showing the Russian citizens—accused by Baku of being members of criminal groups linked to drug trafficking—with bruises and other signs of beatings.
Peskov added that the head of Russia’s Investigative Committee is currently in contact with Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general to resolve “problematic issues” between the two countries. He avoided answering whether recent tensions between Moscow and Baku could already be characterized as a “crisis” requiring the attention of both nations’ presidents.
On Tuesday, Azerbaijani police reported the arrest of several Russians accused of belonging to two criminal groups involved in drug trafficking from neighboring Iran and other cybercrimes.
Russian media claim that among those detained in Azerbaijan are tourists, IT specialists and Russians who fled the war in Ukraine. In particular, journalists identified 25-year-old psychologist Alexei Vasilchenko, who traveled from St. Petersburg to Azerbaijan to visit a friend—also detained in the police operation.
Azerbaijani authorities also arrested two Sputnik journalists for four months, despite Moscow’s demands for their release. They were charged with “fraud,” “illegal business activity” and “money laundering.”
The diplomatic rift between the two countries erupted after a Russian police operation against organized crime in Yekaterinburg (in the Urals), where two Azerbaijanis were killed and six others detained.
In response, Azerbaijani authorities launched a criminal case on Tuesday and formed a special investigative group to examine the incident on Russian soil.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
