Azerbaijan Accuses Russia of Torture and Murder, Escalating Post-Soviet Tensions
Baku, Azerbaijan – In an unprecedented move, Azerbaijan has formally accused Russian authorities – specifically the FSB, rosgvardija, and the Ministry of the Interior – of the torture and murder of its citizens. This escalating conflict marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two former Soviet republics, signaling a growing willingness among post-Soviet states to challenge Moscow’s influence.
The accusations center around the deaths of brothers Hussein and Zijadin Safarov,who allegedly died during a raid in Yekaterinburg. Azerbaijani forensic experts have presented evidence contradicting initial Russian claims of natural causes, detailing severe injuries including fractured ribs, hematomas, and internal organ damage. “We couldn’t even find one of the ribs – it was removed,” stated Adalat Hasanov, director General of the Azerbaijan Bureau of Forensic Medicine, directly refuting the Russian account of heart failure. The prosecutor General’s Office alleges the victims were subjected to brutal torture involving “hard, blunt objects.”
this public dispute represents a dramatic departure from past interactions and highlights a new era of assertiveness from Baku. Experts suggest Azerbaijan is acting from a position of strength, emboldened by Russia’s preoccupation with the war in Ukraine and its resulting vulnerabilities. The conflict is seen as a symptom of the broader collapse of Russian imperial illusions, as former republics increasingly demonstrate a lack of fear towards Moscow.
Sources indicate that Moscow may be deliberately fueling the conflict as retribution for Azerbaijan’s autonomous foreign policy, its close ties with Turkey, and its support for Ukraine. This escalation underscores a critical turning point in the post-Soviet space, with Russia losing its customary levers of control and struggling to manage regional conflicts.
