MP: If persecution against Azerbaijanis becomes widespread in Russia, it could damage relations

If persecution against Azerbaijanis in Russia becomes widespread, it could damage bilateral relations, Azerbaijani MP Mushfig Jafarli told Report.

"Yesterday, as a result of an operation conducted by the Federal Security Service in the city of Yekaterinburg, Russia, at various addresses where the Azerbaijani Safarov family lived, two people were killed and 9 people were detained.

Regarding the issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan noted that the incident was "unacceptable violence" against Azerbaijanis.

Information has been released by the Russian side that Russian law enforcement agencies conducted searches and carried out certain arrests in connection with a criminal case. The conduct of these searches and arrests must first and foremost comply with legislation. The behavior demonstrated by Russian law enforcement agencies toward our compatriots is direct violence. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already clearly expressed its position on this. An official from the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan was summoned to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs and informed of Baku's strong protest," the MP said.

"I think that in a short period of time, Russia should demonstrate a position that will alleviate our concerns about the issue. Otherwise, these events will have a very negative impact on relations between the two countries," he emphasized.

He assessed the incident in Russia as violence: "I think this is violence against our compatriots. Azerbaijanis who faced the attack by the Russian Federal Security Service have also reported being subjected to torture. If persecution against Azerbaijanis in Russia becomes widespread, it could damage bilateral relations."