Russia Bans Employment of Azerbaijani Citizens

The Russian Ministry of Labor has prohibited the employment of Azerbaijani citizens. On July 30, internal methodological materials were sent to regional offices recommending not to hire Azerbaijanis. The official explanation given was the "complicated relations between the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan." Copies of the documents were disseminated by UNIAN.

Additionally, the ministry has required that by July 15, lists of Azerbaijani citizens already employed be submitted, including their names, dates of birth, positions held, permit details, and contact information. This is reportedly for the purpose of analyzing the situation and mitigating risks in the labor market.

Subsequently, many enterprises have reported the absence of employees from Azerbaijan and the lack of plans to hire them. It has been noted that Azerbaijani citizens have likely been mass-dismissed from organizations prior to the submission of reports, in order to officially declare their absence.

Thus, the internal recommendations have effectively turned into an unspoken ban, which has an immediate impact on the labor market, despite the fact that just in 2024, the Minister of Labor himself emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation, praised the pace of its development, and noted the mutual benefits of experience exchange.