Arrest of Three Individuals During Opposition Rally Against Azerbaijan in Saint Petersburg

In the heart of the Caucasus region, relations between Azerbaijan and Russia have taken a turn for the worse. The recent demonstration by a group of Azerbaijani nationalists in Saint Petersburg has highlighted the growing tension between the two countries.

The protest, held under the slogan 'Aliyev, don't anger Russia', focused on the deterioration of Azerbaijan-Russia relations. The group's manifesto accused President Aliyev of approving the war with Russia and being a 'tender friend' to the 'criminal Kyiv regime'. Three members of The Other Russia of E.V. Limonov, an unregistered party founded in 2010 by Eduard Limonov, were briefly detained following the protest near Azerbaijan's consulate.

The initial strain in relations between Moscow and Baku occurred due to an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan in December 2024, which claimed 38 lives. Since then, independent voices have been under threat in the region. Azerbaijan has been accused of closing the Russian House in Baku and imprisoning Russian journalists. In response, a newsroom is being built, powered by readers, to respond to the threat to journalism.

Following the deaths of two Azerbaijani brothers in Russian police custody in June, both countries have engaged in a series of apparent tit-for-tat arrests. Russia has continued to arrest high-profile figures of the Azerbaijani diaspora. Azerbaijani authorities blocked the operation of Sputnik Azerbaijan in Baku and detained seven employees of the Russian-state news outlet.

The future of journalism in the region is under threat. The Other Russia of E.V. Limonov, a party that subscribes to National Bolshevism and promotes the occupation of territories inhabited by Russian speakers in post-Soviet countries, has been sending fighters to fight against Ukraine since 2014.

The Caucasus region is experiencing changes. The protesters demanded that the Azerbaijani authorities stop supporting Ukraine, release 'political prisoners', re-open the Russian House, and not interfere with Russia's cultural and educational activities. Azerbaijani security services have also arrested ten other Russian nationals, accusing them of drug trafficking and cybercrimes.

As the situation in the Caucasus continues to evolve, it is clear that the region is at a critical juncture. The future of journalism and political rights hang in the balance, and it is essential that both countries work towards a peaceful resolution to the ongoing tensions.

Arrest of Three Individuals During Opposition Rally Against Azerbaijan in Saint Petersburg