Atrocities committed against Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg is unprecedented and grave crime

The atrocities committed against Azerbaijanis in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg are an unprecedented and serious crime, Azerbaijani MP Vugar Rahimzada said in his statement to Report.

According to Rahimzada, the raids on apartments where Azerbaijanis live in Yekaterinburg, the killings of innocent people and brutal beatings are part of the Russian chauvinist policy:

"The violence that has occurred is not the only provocation directed against Azerbaijanis in Russia recently. The incident of the shooting down of an Azerbaijani civilian plane in December 2024 has not yet been officially addressed, the perpetrators have not been held accountable or punished. The silence and inaction of Russian law enforcement agencies on this issue are among the factors that increase dissatisfaction."

The MP said that intolerance, discrimination, and Islamophobia, which are at the root of Russia's policy and against other peoples, especially Muslim and Turkic peoples, are intensifying:

"Some world powers demonstrate from time to time that they cannot digest Azerbaijan's independent policy through the steps they take. Attempts to pressure our country are among those steps. The murder incident in Yekaterinburg is another manifestation of these pressures. The violence and illegal arrests carried out by Russian law enforcement agencies against Azerbaijanis are completely contrary to international law. This is no longer neighborliness or partnership, but hypocrisy. Some time ago, a cyberattack was organized against Azerbaijan's information resources, and Russia was behind it. Russia demonstrates its position towards our country in some ways that are 'secret to itself, but obvious to others.' For this, it is enough to recall the 30-year occupation period."

Rahimzada noted that traditionally, Russia has always been characterized by a chauvinistic mood towards other nations, and discrimination has become a widespread practice:

"It seems that open pressure has already begun against Muslim nations, Muslims living in this country, or traveling there. This means the incitement of Islamophobia in Russia. Intolerance, discrimination, and Islamophobia against other nations are intensifying in Russia's national policy. Unable to achieve the desired result in the war with Ukraine, Russia has begun to look for enemies among representatives of other nations. The chauvinistic, openly anti-Azerbaijani speeches of elements such as Solovyov, a Kremlin henchman, clearly show where the issue lies and how this entire process is being managed."

The member of the Milli Majlis emphasized that if today Russia pursues such a cruel policy against the Slavic Ukrainian people, who are its brothers, who share the same language and religion, if it wipes out the cities and villages of this country, if it commits genocide in Bucha, and if it destroys settlements with the latest destructive weapons, then it is not surprising that its even more cruel behavior towards other peoples is:

"The chauvinistic, discriminatory policy implemented in Russia against Azerbaijanis, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Turkmens and representatives of other nationalities has become systematic. The concept of 'ethnocrime', 'invented' and widely used by Russian law enforcement agencies, is also designed to create a legal basis for presenting representatives of other nations as criminals in this country."

Rahimzada said that the events taking place in Yekaterinburg are a planned, purposeful crime:

"The perpetrators of the violence and torture committed against Azerbaijanis, the brutal killing of our compatriots and various degrees of bodily harm must be punished immediately. This policy, implemented by Russi, serves to create confrontation and loss of trust."

On the morning of June 27, the Russian Federal Security Service raided houses where Azerbaijanis lived in Yekaterinburg. During the raid, two Azerbaijanis were killed and several others were detained. The murdered Azerbaijanis are the brothers of the well-known journalist Seyfaddin Huseynli.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement on June 28 regarding the attacks on Azerbaijanis by the Russian Federal Security Service in Yekaterinburg.

In addition, the Russian chargé d'affaires was summoned to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the incident in Yekaterinburg, and a strong protest was expressed.