The Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan has announced the cancellation of all cultural events organized in the country by Russian state bodies and private individuals. According to the ministry, this decision was prompted by “ethnically motivated violence” by Russian security forces in Sverdlovsk region against citizens of Azerbaijani nationality.
The official statement from the ministry says that, considering the demonstrative, targeted, and extrajudicial killings and acts of violence committed by Russian law enforcement on ethnic grounds, as well as the systematic nature of such incidents recently, Azerbaijan is canceling all planned cultural events involving Russian state and private organizations. This includes concerts, festivals, performances, exhibitions, and other events.
The immediate cause of this decision was the events in Sverdlovsk region. On June 28, the Investigative Committee reported the suppression of an alleged “ethnic criminal group” and the initiation of a criminal case under articles related to conspiracy to murder, contract killing, and attempted murder. According to the investigation, the group was involved in crimes in Yekaterinburg in 2001, 2010, and 2011.
During the investigation, mass raids were conducted at workplaces of Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg, during which more than 50 people were detained, including many relatives — brothers and cousins. As a result of the operation, two people died — brothers Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov.
According to the official investigation, the raids are linked to the murder of Yunis Pashayev in May 2001 near the “Caspian” café on Blukher Street in Yekaterinburg. The man was stabbed with kitchen knives and, according to the investigation, named the Safarov brothers as attackers before he died.
Sources from the publication E1.RU claim that people close to the Safarovs believed the old murder case was closed, as it had been 24 years since the crime, and the case was considered “buried.”
A source told the publication that during their detention the Safarov brothers complained of poor health and were taken to the hospital. One of them reportedly suffered heart problems; doctors attempted resuscitation but failed, and the man died. The second brother’s condition reportedly deteriorated similarly. Autopsy results are awaited.
In light of these events, the Azerbaijani side has regarded the incidents as ethnically motivated violence and expressed concern about the actions of Russian security forces against Azerbaijani citizens based on their ethnicity.
