Russia's Expanding Crackdown on Prominent Azerbaijanis Amid Deepening Diplomatic Strain

Yekaterinburg, Russia – A series of recent legal actions, including criminal cases, detentions, and citizenship revocations, against prominent Azerbaijanis in Russia points to a deepening strain in diplomatic relations between Moscow and Baku. These incidents, occurring over recent weeks, suggest a concerted effort by Russian authorities to exert pressure, often citing national security concerns or other criminal offenses.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) has been particularly active in revoking the Russian citizenship of Azerbaijani individuals. Most recently, on July 18, Azerbaijani athlete Javid Rzayev was stripped of his Russian citizenship by the Saratov region FSB. The stated reason was his "actions negatively impacting the political and social stability of the country." Rzayev, who confirmed his denaturalization to the RBK agency, is reportedly engaged in compulsory labor in Russia and faces imminent deportation. This follows a lifetime disqualification from the Russian Boxing Federation last year after he controversially called another fighter a "Russian pig" during a Moscow bout.

Similarly, in February 2025, Azerbaijani blogger Subhan Mammadov, widely known as Subo, was stripped of his Russian citizenship. TASS reported that Mammadov, who boasts a significant online following (13.5 million on Instagram, 1.6 million on YouTube), allegedly provided false information when acquiring his citizenship. While Mammadov holds Azerbaijani citizenship and was born in Moscow to an Azerbaijani family, he is now on a wanted list in Russia, facing a criminal case for large-scale tax evasion (over 50 million rubles) and money laundering. His father and brother have also been named as defendants in the tax evasion case, which reportedly involved a scheme active from 2020 to 2022.

These cases echo the denaturalization of Elshan Ibrahimov, the head of the Regional National-Cultural Autonomy of Azerbaijanis in the Moscow region, who was stripped of his Russian citizenship and deported in June 2025. RBK reported a similar justification for Ibrahimov's case: "activities posing a threat to the national security of the Russian Federation."

Beyond citizenship revocations, Russian authorities have also initiated criminal proceedings and extended detentions against Azerbaijani diaspora members. On July 16, it was reported that a criminal case was opened against Shahin Shikhlinski, the head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg. He is accused under Article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code, pertaining to the "use of violence against a government representative." His son, Mutvali Shikhlinski, was detained and interrogated by the Russian Investigative Committee regarding an incident on July 1, during which his father was initially apprehended and then released. Mutvali allegedly struck a law enforcement officer with a vehicle during the incident.

These developments in Yekaterinburg are linked to broader mass raids conducted at the end of June, which saw the arrest of several ethnic Azerbaijanis. The pre-trial detention period has since been extended by three months for eight individuals, including Mazahir, Ayaz, Akif, Bakir, and Kamal Safarov, Ahliman Ganjiyev, Shahid Lalayev, and Aziz Abbasov, who are accused in criminal cases dating back to 2001, 2010, and 2011. These raids are identified as a catalyst that further deepened the crisis in relations between Moscow and Baku.

The series of actions against Azerbaijanis in Russia is unfolding against a backdrop of increasing diplomatic tension between the two nations. Azerbaijani political scientist Arif Yunus, head of the conflict studies department at the Institute for Peace and Democracy, expressed concerns to "Current Times" that this tension is likely to escalate further. Yunus highlighted reciprocal risks, stating that Russians living in Azerbaijan are also facing harassment, drawing parallels to the situation of Azerbaijanis in Russia. "You are victims, just like Azerbaijanis in Russia. You are targets. You should leave the country soon," Yunus warned, citing the potential for arbitrary accusations of espionage, drug trafficking, or fraud.

These actions by Russian authorities align with recent legislative changes signed by President Vladimir Putin. In April 2023, Putin approved amendments allowing for the revocation of acquired citizenship for "activities posing a threat to national security," as well as for spreading "fake" news about military operations or "discrediting" the Russian army. Furthermore, in August 2024, a new law was approved that permits the revocation of citizenship for individuals, primarily migrants, who refuse military registration.

The pattern of arrests, criminal cases, and citizenship revocations targeting prominent Azerbaijanis in Russia suggests a deliberate escalation of pressure, reflecting a deteriorating diplomatic climate between Russia and Azerbaijan. The use of "national security" as a broad justification, coupled with new legal frameworks, indicates a hardening stance that could have significant implications for diaspora communities and bilateral relations.Russia's Expanding Crackdown on Prominent Azerbaijanis Amid Deepening Diplomatic Strain

Yekaterinburg, Russia – A series of recent legal actions, including criminal cases, detentions, and citizenship revocations, against prominent Azerbaijanis in Russia points to a deepening strain in diplomatic relations between Moscow and Baku. These incidents, occurring over recent weeks, suggest a concerted effort by Russian authorities to exert pressure, often citing national security concerns or other criminal offenses.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) has been particularly active in revoking the Russian citizenship of Azerbaijani individuals. Most recently, on July 18, Azerbaijani athlete Javid Rzayev was stripped of his Russian citizenship by the Saratov region FSB. The stated reason was his "actions negatively impacting the political and social stability of the country." Rzayev, who confirmed his denaturalization to the RBK agency, is reportedly engaged in compulsory labor in Russia and faces imminent deportation. This follows a lifetime disqualification from the Russian Boxing Federation last year after he controversially called another fighter a "Russian pig" during a Moscow bout.

Similarly, in February 2025, Azerbaijani blogger Subhan Mammadov, widely known as Subo, was stripped of his Russian citizenship. TASS reported that Mammadov, who boasts a significant online following (13.5 million on Instagram, 1.6 million on YouTube), allegedly provided false information when acquiring his citizenship. While Mammadov holds Azerbaijani citizenship and was born in Moscow to an Azerbaijani family, he is now on a wanted list in Russia, facing a criminal case for large-scale tax evasion (over 50 million rubles) and money laundering. His father and brother have also been named as defendants in the tax evasion case, which reportedly involved a scheme active from 2020 to 2022.

These cases echo the denaturalization of Elshan Ibrahimov, the head of the Regional National-Cultural Autonomy of Azerbaijanis in the Moscow region, who was stripped of his Russian citizenship and deported in June 2025. RBK reported a similar justification for Ibrahimov's case: "activities posing a threat to the national security of the Russian Federation."

Beyond citizenship revocations, Russian authorities have also initiated criminal proceedings and extended detentions against Azerbaijani diaspora members. On July 16, it was reported that a criminal case was opened against Shahin Shikhlinski, the head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg. He is accused under Article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code, pertaining to the "use of violence against a government representative." His son, Mutvali Shikhlinski, was detained and interrogated by the Russian Investigative Committee regarding an incident on July 1, during which his father was initially apprehended and then released. Mutvali allegedly struck a law enforcement officer with a vehicle during the incident.

These developments in Yekaterinburg are linked to broader mass raids conducted at the end of June, which saw the arrest of several ethnic Azerbaijanis. The pre-trial detention period has since been extended by three months for eight individuals, including Mazahir, Ayaz, Akif, Bakir, and Kamal Safarov, Ahliman Ganjiyev, Shahid Lalayev, and Aziz Abbasov, who are accused in criminal cases dating back to 2001, 2010, and 2011. These raids are identified as a catalyst that further deepened the crisis in relations between Moscow and Baku.

The series of actions against Azerbaijanis in Russia is unfolding against a backdrop of increasing diplomatic tension between the two nations. Azerbaijani political scientist Arif Yunus, head of the conflict studies department at the Institute for Peace and Democracy, expressed concerns to "Current Times" that this tension is likely to escalate further. Yunus highlighted reciprocal risks, stating that Russians living in Azerbaijan are also facing harassment, drawing parallels to the situation of Azerbaijanis in Russia. "You are victims, just like Azerbaijanis in Russia. You are targets. You should leave the country soon," Yunus warned, citing the potential for arbitrary accusations of espionage, drug trafficking, or fraud.

These actions by Russian authorities align with recent legislative changes signed by President Vladimir Putin. In April 2023, Putin approved amendments allowing for the revocation of acquired citizenship for "activities posing a threat to national security," as well as for spreading "fake" news about military operations or "discrediting" the Russian army. Furthermore, in August 2024, a new law was approved that permits the revocation of citizenship for individuals, primarily migrants, who refuse military registration.

The pattern of arrests, criminal cases, and citizenship revocations targeting prominent Azerbaijanis in Russia suggests a deliberate escalation of pressure, reflecting a deteriorating diplomatic climate between Russia and Azerbaijan. The use of "national security" as a broad justification, coupled with new legal frameworks, indicates a hardening stance that could have significant implications for diaspora communities and bilateral relations.