The arrests of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs, diaspora activists, and public figures in Russia are an act of political pressure, Azerbaijani MP Vasif Gafarov told Report.
He noted that such behavior of Russian law enforcement agencies, especially arrests carried out without transparent, convincing legal grounds, should be assessed as an act of ethnically and politically motivated pressure: "The successive arrests of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs, diaspora activists and public figures in Russia in recent days is not only a legal issue, but also a clearly politically motivated, biased process resembling ethnic discrimination. Such arrests cause serious concern and justified indignation in Azerbaijani society. This doesn't correspond to the norms of international law or friendly interstate relations. Azerbaijani entrepreneurs and representatives of diaspora organizations have worked peacefully in Russian society for many years, contributed to the economy, and played the role of a bridge between Azerbaijan and Russia. A targeted campaign of pressure on these people must be resolutely condemned."
The MP noted that such politically motivated arrests cause mistrust and anger towards Russia, whose reputation in the world has already been shaken: "Azerbaijan cannot remain indifferent to this issue. The relevant structures and diplomatic missions of our country fairly and immediately intervened in this. The protection of Azerbaijanis whose rights have been violated must be ensured, and the issue must be brought to the international level. At the same time, friendly relations between the two states cannot continue on the basis of unilateral pressure and persecution. No state can speak to Azerbaijan in the language of threats and pressure. Russia must understand this and build its policy accordingly. The Azerbaijani people and state have never been silent in connection with such cases, and today they will not remain indifferent to the unfair actions against their compatriots."