Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) forces killed two Azerbaijani brothers and arrested nine others during violent raids on Azerbaijani homes in Yekaterinburg on June 27, triggering Azerbaijan's strongest diplomatic response since the AZAL aircraft downing in December 2024.

Ziyaddin and Husein Safarov, brothers of prominent journalist Seyfaddin Huseynli, were shot dead during morning raids across more than ten apartments housing Azerbaijani families in connection with the murder of Yunus Pashayev. Several others were hospitalised with injuries sustained during what Azerbaijan's foreign ministry termed "demonstrative, targeted, and extrajudicial killings and acts of violence committed against Azerbaijanis on ethnic grounds."

Yekaterinburg's Lenin District Court has imposed varying detention periods on the arrested Azerbaijanis. Akif, Ayaz and Mazahir Safarov received 22-day custody orders, while Bekir Safarov, Akhliman Ganjiyev and Shahin Lalayev were sentenced to three days' detention.

Defence lawyer Ilkin Amirov told Report that his client, Akhliman Ganjiyev, was tortured at the Sverdlovsk Regional Investigative Committee offices. "FSB forces broke into my client's home at 6 am on Friday, brutally beat him for nearly two hours, conducted searches and seized phones, documents and other belongings," Amirov said.

The lawyer stated that investigators possess no evidence linking Ganjiyev to the murder charges he faces. "Akhliman Ganjiyev has no connection to the murder and was never acquainted with the deceased Yunus Pashayev. The only 'evidence' in the case is a confession obtained under torture and testimony from two witnesses whose identity is concealed, allegedly in the interests of the investigation," he said.

Mazahir Safarov reportedly told his lawyer that his confession was extracted through force and pressure, including threats against his family members.

Azerbaijan's response has been swift and comprehensive. The foreign ministry summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires to express "sharp protest" over the incident and demanded immediate investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

The Ministry of Culture announced the cancellation of all cultural events planned in Azerbaijan by Russian state and private institutions, including concerts, festivals, theatrical performances and exhibitions. 

More significantly, the parliamentary delegation led by Ali Ahmadov, first deputy speaker of the parliament, cancelled its planned participation in the 23rd session of the Azerbaijan-Russia Interparliamentary Cooperation Commission scheduled for Moscow. Deputy PM of Russia Alexey Overchuk's visit to Baku was also cancelled.

Russian officials have not responded to Azerbaijan's formal diplomatic note, with only Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova offering what Azerbaijani officials described as "verbal tinsel and empty talk”.

This follows the December 2024 downing of an AZAL passenger aircraft over Grozny, which killed dozens of Azerbaijanis. 

Multiple Azerbaijani MPs characterised the FSB operation as state-sponsored terrorism, as quoted by Report news agency. "This is savagery committed by employees of Russia's interior ministry. No one has the right to kill a person in front of their family. This has only one name — brutality," Sabir Rustamkhanli, chairman of the Civil Solidarity Party, stated.

Rasim Musabeyov, a Milli Majlis deputy and political scientist, argued that the raids aim to intimidate diaspora communities into sending young men to the Ukrainian front. "The main task of these actions is pressure on local diasporas to send youth to the Ukrainian front," he said.

MP Vugar Isgandarov noted the contrast between Russian sensitivity to minor incidents involving Russians in Azerbaijan and Moscow's silence over the Yekaterinburg killings. "Law enforcement agencies, which are obliged to protect people from criminals, are themselves acting like criminal gangs," he stated.

According to Azerbaijani pro-government outlets, the incident occurred against a backdrop of Russia's deteriorating military position in Ukraine and mounting personnel shortages. Intelligence sources indicate Moscow has detained 20,000 migrants and sent them to Ukrainian front lines, despite migrants committing only 4.3% of criminal offences in Russia, according to Investigative Committee chairman Alexander Bastrykin. Pro-government outlets also claimed that Russian propagandist Vladimir Medinsky, pro-Armenian deputy Konstantin Zatulin and television presenter Vladimir Solovyov have all participated in campaigns targeting non-Russian minorities, indicating coordination at senior levels.

Former foreign minister Tofig Zulfugarov characterised the persecution as part of a systematic state policy rather than isolated incidents. "CIS countries have repeatedly expressed their strongest objections to such unacceptable treatment. It seems that such actions are a trend in Russia's domestic policy," he said.

MP Nigar Arpadarai alleged that "specific forces" within Russia's political elite attempting to damage bilateral relations. "These are the same forces that sent modern weapons to Armenia during the 2020 war, sent Ruben Vardanyan to Karabagh, and tried to divert the investigation of the downed AZAL passenger aircraft from the correct direction," she said.

The remains of Ziyaddin and Husein Safarov will be transported to Baku on June 30 via Ural Airlines. According to diplomatic sources, Azerbaijan's Consulate General in Yekaterinburg is preparing documentation for the repatriation.

Over 3mn Azerbaijanis reside in Russia, making them one of the largest diaspora communities. The incident has prompted calls for Azerbaijanis to reconsider their residence in Russia, with several MPs suggesting the persecution will continue without decisive Russian leadership intervention. "No one in the world maintains relations with Russia anymore, except us and the Uzbeks. Such savagery should not go unanswered," MP Agil Abbas stated.

Ilham Aliyev, president of Azerbaijan, who is known as a personal friend and ally of Vladimir Putin, is yet to comment on developments.