Russian Foreign Ministry Comments on Mass Arrests of Azerbaijanis

The Russian Foreign Ministry has commented on the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's statement regarding the mass arrests of Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg. Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that the Russian law enforcement agencies have detained suspects of Azerbaijani descent who are Russian citizens as part of criminal investigations related to serious crimes committed in previous years. Searches were also conducted at their homes.

On June 28, Pyotr Volkovikh, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Russian Federation, who was summoned to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, provided the necessary explanations to the Azerbaijani side and assured that the situation is under the control of law enforcement agencies. Investigative actions within the mentioned criminal cases are ongoing,” emphasized the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Zakharova added that more detailed information will be published by the Investigative Committee as soon as it becomes available.