【Azerbaijan and Russia Conflict Escalates】On July 1 local time, Shakhin Shykhlynsky, a leader of the Azerbaijani diaspora, was arrested near Baku Square in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Figure 1, Figure 2)
Over the past week, relations between Azerbaijan and Russia have sharply deteriorated, with the conflict escalating to both diplomatic and civilian levels. Azerbaijan raided the Baku office of Russian media outlet Sputnik, arresting its director and editors, accusing them of being FSB agents. Azerbaijani state media directly criticized Russia's colonial mindset, referencing historical grievances such as the Baku events of 1990, demonstrating a tough stance. At the same time, Russian authorities arrested Shakhin Shykhlynsky and his son near Baku Square in Yekaterinburg, claiming they were involved in a criminal organization. However, the rough nature of the operation triggered a strong backlash from Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan canceled Russian-related cultural activities and arrested Russian-speaking ethnic groups, accusing them of drug trafficking. In response, Russia summoned the Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia to protest. Both sides are confronting each other, and retaliatory arrests reveal a collapse of trust, deepening geopolitical rifts. Russia's hardline stance may be due to Azerbaijan's clear pro-Western tendencies, and it is unlikely that bilateral relations will ease in the short term, possibly further impacting regional stability.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836487600512008/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.