Russia has called on Azerbaijan to repair its fraying ties with Moscow after a sharp diplomatic escalation triggered by the deaths of two Azerbaijani nationals during Russian police operations. According to Baku, post-mortems revealed the men were beaten to death, contradicting Russian claims that one died of heart problems. Azerbaijani authorities responded by arresting two Russian state journalists and approximately 15 other Russian nationals on charges including drug trafficking and cybercrime.

Moscow Accuses "Certain Forces" of Sabotage

The Russian Foreign Ministry said unknown actors were trying to “wreck the relationship” between the two countries. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated in an interview with Sputnik Radio, “Those who want to spoil [our friendship] should think carefully about what they are doing.” She urged Azerbaijan to return bilateral ties to the level of “strategic cooperation” outlined in official agreements and condemned Baku for denying consular access to detained Russian citizens.

Airliner Crash Adds to Strain

Relations between Moscow and Baku were already strained following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner near southern Russia in late 2024, which killed 38 people. Azerbaijan claims the crash resulted from unintentional fire from Russian air defense units. Nemat Avazov, head of the Azerbaijani investigation, stated that his team would soon publish their findings on the incident.

Kremlin Seeks Release of Journalists

The Kremlin has confirmed it is pursuing negotiations to secure the release of its detained journalists, who are currently held in pre-trial detention in Baku on charges including fraud. Moscow insists that continued detentions and lack of dialogue contradict the spirit of long-standing cooperation between the two countries.

This recent diplomatic crisis underscores growing fragility in Russian-Azerbaijani relations, with regional implications at a time when both countries face intense international scrutiny and shifting alliances.