Russia-Azerbaijan Relations Deteriorate Amid Custody Deaths

Tensions have escalated between Russia and Azerbaijan after the death of two ethnic Azerbaijani brothers while in Russian custody has opened a diplomatic crisis, signaling Moscow's waning influence in the South Caucasus.

Tensions have sharply risen between Russia and Azerbaijan in the latest diplomatic fallout, ignited by the deaths of two ethnic Azerbaijani brothers, Huseyn and Ziyaddin Safarov. The brothers reportedly died while detained in Russian custody following an investigation into unresolved mafia-style killings in Yekaterinburg. One brother's cause of death was reportedly heart failure, while the cause of the second brother remains under investigation.

The deaths prompted a rapid response from the Azeri government, which accused Russian authorities of “torture and murder with extreme cruelty”. Azerbaijan's state prosecutor announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the brothers' deaths, contributing to accusations from pro-government media of an orchestrated campaign by Moscow against ethnic minorities.

The unfolding crisis underlines the critical shifts in post-Soviet dynamics. Just years prior, Azerbaijan and Russia had reaffirmed their alliance with a "declaration on allied interaction," a pact signed shortly before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, indicating that relations have soured considerably since then.

The escalating tensions come at a time when Azerbaijan's stance towards Moscow appears increasingly contentious, reflecting broader regional shifts. As both nations grapple with their diplomatic relations, the fallout from the Safarov brothers' deaths may have long-lasting repercussions on Moscow's influence in the already volatile South Caucasus region.