Russian Political Commentator Declared 'Foreign Agent' Amidst Deteriorating Russia-Azerbaijan Relations

Sergey Markov, a prominent pro-government political commentator in Russia, has been designated a "foreign agent" in his own country, a move that has drawn significant attention due to his staunch support for Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev. This development unfolds amidst a deepening strain in Russia-Azerbaijan bilateral relations, marked by several critical incidents.

The Russian Ministry of Justice, responsible for maintaining the register of "foreign agents," announced Markov's inclusion in the list. The stated reasons for his designation include creating and disseminating information related to individuals and organisations declared "foreign agents" or "undesirable," as well as providing interviews to foreign media outlets. The "foreign agents" law, enacted in Russia in 2012, is widely perceived as a tool to pressure independent media and civil society.

Markov, who has a history of supporting the Kremlin, having served as a State Duma deputy from 2007 to 2011, a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and a trusted representative for Vladimir Putin's presidential candidacy in 2012, strongly refuted the decision. He asserted on his Telegram channel that he is "not a foreign agent" and that everyone is well aware of his 25-year support for Vladimir Putin's policies, further noting that he is also under Canadian sanctions. Markov stated that while he is currently under an "information storm," much of it is false, and he has no intention of leaving Russia, which he considers his beloved homeland. He also affirmed his recognition of the legitimacy of all Russian government actions and his intention to resolve any problems within the legal framework, without suing the state.

The catalyst for Markov's designation appears to be his effusive praise for Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during a global media forum held in Shusha, Azerbaijan, earlier this year. At the event, Markov described President Aliyev as "very wise" and "one of the most experienced leaders of the modern world". According to Kremlin-aligned journalist Aleksandr Yunashev, Markov further lauded Aliyev as possessing a "brilliant intellect," being a "very experienced modern leader," and the "leader of a country that has fully restored its victory". Yunashev also noted that during the same event, the Azerbaijani leader criticised Russia and accepted a collection of Ukrainian national battalion chevrons as a gift, with Markov reportedly seen smiling in a photograph during the gift presentation.

Markov's remarks in Shusha provoked a strong negative reaction among other pro-government propagandists in Russia. Shortly after the forum, renowned Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov declared that Markov should no longer be invited to Russian news programmes and ought to be recognised as a "foreign agent". Other critics included military correspondent Aleksandr Kots, who labelled Markov's speech as "disgusting" amidst heightened tensions between Moscow and Baku, and writer Roman Antonovski, who explicitly demanded Markov's recognition as a "foreign agent". The "Alex Parker Returns" Telegram channel even accused Markov of being "in cahoots with foreign forces waging an information war against Russia, promoting their position by taking money from Azerbaijanis".

This incident is set against a backdrop of seriously deteriorating relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. The situation worsened significantly following an AZAL airline crash on 25 December 2024, which Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claimed was caused by the plane being shot down by the Russian army. Tensions escalated further in June 2025, with raids and arrests targeting Azerbaijanis in Russia, followed by similar actions against Russian citizens in Azerbaijan. President Aliyev publicly addressed the escalating tensions in an interview with Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya TV, describing the plane crash as a "serious issue" in bilateral relations. He then highlighted "unprovoked attacks" against Azerbaijanis in Russia, resulting in "two people killed and others tortured," labelling these actions as "unprecedented against our people". He also mentioned that these events saddened, angered, and disappointed the Azerbaijani people, who are awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.

Further compounding the tensions between the two nations is the recent arrest of Shahin Shikhlinski, the head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Shikhlinski was detained last month amidst the worsening Russia-Azerbaijan relations. He faces criminal charges under two articles of the Russian Criminal Code: Article 318 (application of force against a representative of authority) and Article 105 (intentional homicide).

Concerns have been raised regarding Shikhlinski's detention conditions in a single cell at an investigative isolator in Yekaterinburg. Vladimir Popov, Chairman of the Russian Regional Public Oversight Commission, who met with Shikhlinski, reported that the cell, despite being renovated, is considered "narrow for a large inmate". Shikhlinski himself reportedly compared his cell to a "chicken coop" and expressed facing serious health problems in detention. Popov highlighted that Shikhlinski is an "elderly and sick person" who believes he committed no illegal acts and is merely a "victim of the situation". Due to a condition that could require emergency medical assistance at any moment, Popov suggested that Shikhlinski should not be in a single cell but rather with another inmate who could raise an alarm if needed. Popov has since informed Tatyana Merzlyakova, the ombudsman of the Sverdlovsk region, about the situation.

These developments underscore the fragility of the relationship between Russia and Azerbaijan, with individual cases like Sergey Markov's designation and Shahin Shikhlinski's arrest reflecting the broader geopolitical currents and their impact on individuals.