Recent socio-political developments within Russia vividly demonstrate that the state's racist and chauvinist policies are not only deepening but have also taken on an extreme form. In order to suppress internal dissent and strengthen totalitarian control, the Kremlin has chosen non-Russian peoples and migrants as scapegoats. The Kremlin's zealous revival of the “foreign enemy” mythology is, in reality, an attempt to conceal that its systematic repressive machinery is targeting migrants, ethnic minorities, and anyone who thinks differently. These pressures are no longer limited to isolated incidents — criminal policies such as ethnic discrimination, violence, and forced mobilization have become an ideological pillar of the state. The Russian authorities are openly dismantling the model of a multiethnic society, striving instead to realize the fantasy of a monoethnic and aggressive empire.
Vugar Iskandarov, a member of the Azerbaijan-Russia inter-parliamentary working group and MP, stated in an interview with APA that ultra-nationalism and the politics of fear in Russia are becoming official tools of the state.
“Great empires must either grow or shrink and collapse. Unfortunately, today we are witnessing precisely this phenomenon. What is happening once again shows that the rule of law no longer prevails; rather, the dominance of force over laws is openly demonstrated to all. The recent events and their resonance prove that ultra-nationalism and phobia are being used as political tools in Russia. Certain circles issue instructions, and individuals attempt to impose on society the narratives that the state does not officially voice but covertly commissions. The current dire situation in Russia, the psychological strain caused by war, and the societal unrest have spread across almost all regions of the federation. This has created a state of psychosis among the population. To counter that psychosis, ultra-nationalism has temporarily been replaced with the search for an internal enemy among ‘ethnic Russians’. This reality is now clearly visible,” he said.
Ceyhun Mammadov, a member of the Azerbaijan-Russia inter-parliamentary working group and an MP, told APA that the discrimination by Russian officials against migrants, particularly Azerbaijanis, is plainly evident.
“The testimonies of individuals who have been subjected to the brutality of Russian law enforcement agencies confirm once again that there is serious discrimination and hostility toward migrants, especially Azerbaijanis. The Russian side must prevent such incidents and take decisive measures to ensure that they do not happen in the future. Otherwise, such actions will severely damage trust between peoples, escalate hatred and confrontation, and lead to serious problems. These actions and dangerous tendencies must be stopped immediately,” said Mr Mammadov.
The repressive state apparatus and a wave of ethnic persecution
In various regions of Russia, especially in major cities, pressure on citizens of non-Russian origin, including those of Azerbaijani descent, is rapidly increasing. During a special operation conducted by the FSB yesterday in Yekaterinburg against the Azerbaijani Safarov family, two individuals were brutally murdered and nine others were arrested, revealing that ethnic hatred, rather than the rule of law, prevails in the country. The absence of transparency in the operation’s details and the arbitrariness of law enforcement has become state policy.
Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the incident. In the statement, official Baku demanded that Russia investigate the killing of Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg and punish the perpetrators.
“We express our deep concern regarding the deaths of our compatriots, the injuries resulting from severe bodily harm, and the detention of nine people following the raid by the Russian Federal Security Service on the homes of Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg on the morning of June 27. We expect an urgent investigation by Russia and the swift prosecution of those responsible for this unacceptable violence,” the statement read.
According to Vugar Iskandarov, the brutality committed against our compatriots in Yekaterinburg once again proves that fear and bias, rather than law, reign in Russia.
“The cruel incident in Yekaterinburg against our compatriots — most of whom are Russian citizens — is a vivid example of what has been said. For people to be savagely attacked in their homes in the early morning for some alleged crime from 25 years ago, tortured, and killed, is something that no longer happens even in the most backward countries. The fact that this took place in Russia, and that it was executed with particular brutality in an atmosphere of fear and managed by certain circles, raises serious concerns. We want to believe that the Russian state will act on this and take legal steps against all those involved in this crime. Law enforcement must open criminal cases against them and demonstrate that this is not a political order, but the state's just position. Unfortunately, current events suggest the opposite — it seems all of this was carried out under orders from certain circles, with the brutality being a deliberate component. According to legal norms, if a person has committed a crime, only a court can determine their punishment. No police or law enforcement agency has the right to torture or kill individuals. Such incidents must be urgently prevented in Russia,” said Mr Iskandarov.
Ceyhun Mammadov stated that recent events show that the increasing pressure on migrants, particularly Azerbaijanis, in Russia is not only a violation of human rights but also a dangerous and systematic policy that undermines bilateral relations.
“It must be regrettably noted that recently there has been a rise in pressure and repressive measures against migrants, especially Azerbaijanis, in Russia. Yesterday’s incident once again reveals how dangerous and disturbing this trend has become. Such treatment of Azerbaijani citizens not only violates human rights but also delivers a severe blow to relations between the two countries. Currently, Russia’s relations with European countries are practically broken. The Kremlin is putting at risk its ties with CIS countries and their peoples, with whom it still maintains some degree of relations. It appears that the Russian authorities are deliberately trying to damage these ties as well. The incident yesterday — the killing of two Azerbaijanis and the detention of nine others — shows how dangerously far the situation has escalated,” he added.
Blackmail against migrants and forced conscription for war
Facing a severe shortage of human resources in the war in Ukraine, Russia is attempting to fill the gap with migrants. However, the principle of voluntarism does not apply here — the Kremlin accuses migrants of crimes they did not commit, uses various forms of blackmail, threatens their family members, and as a result, hundreds are forced into war. This is a blatant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
Commenting on this policy, Vugar Iskandarov said that compensating for the shortage of soldiers in Russia with violence against migrants, and the state's instrumentalization of xenophobia and Islamophobia, signals a dangerous ideological collapse that is destroying the country from within: “There is currently a shortage of soldiers in Russia, and it is becoming harder to find people to send to war. This shortage is being compensated through the migrant population. Today, Russia is using violence against migrants and non-Russian ethnic groups as a tool of pressure. Time and again, such incidents are engineered to rally society under the guise of ‘artificial patriotism’. But this only has a temporary effect. Events such as xenophobia, Islamophobia, and inhumane treatment of other nationalities serve to fragment society. Russia must not ignore these dangerous trends and should take a firm stand against them.”
Ceyhun Mammadov added that Russia, running out of human resources, is coercing migrants into war through pressure and blackmail, and yesterday’s incident is another clear example of this hypocritical and brutal policy: “Unfortunately, Russia, facing a shortage of human resources, is attempting to involve migrants in war using various forms of pressure and blackmail. This process has already taken on a systematic character, and yesterday’s incident is another bitter example of this policy.”
The Kremlin media's anti-Azerbaijani hysteria
Moscow’s anti-Azerbaijani rhetoric is not limited to the actions of law enforcement. Kremlin-affiliated media outlets — especially provocative figures like Solovyov — openly display hostility toward Azerbaijan. Incendiary calls targeting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and aimed at destabilizing the region are systematically published in the Russian press. This confirms that at the core of official Moscow’s intention to spoil relations with Azerbaijan lies an information war. There are also strong, substantiated suspicions that recent large-scale cyberattacks on Azerbaijan’s major information resources were orchestrated by Russian intelligence agencies. This act further proves that Russia is not only using physical violence but is also waging a digital war against Azerbaijan, elevating this confrontation to the level of state strategy.
According to Vugar Iskandarov, in the context of growing anti-Russian sentiments and Russia’s increasing international isolation, the country is resorting to such unacceptable methods as a form of self-defense.
“These measures, ostensibly aimed at protecting society, actually harm non-Russian ethnic groups living in Russia. The recent incident in Yekaterinburg once again shows that the Russian Federation must react swiftly to such grave crimes. All parties involved in this serious crime must be brought to justice, and the Russian state must provide an official response to the note from Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Naturally, Azerbaijan’s growing power and rapid development on regional and global levels are unsettling to certain circles, and these events bear the traces of that anxiety. Unfortunately, such forces are quite numerous in Russia. They infiltrate both the government and the media to spread their harmful ideologies. The inhumane actions carried out by these groups, who view Azerbaijan’s development with jealousy, are the result of their toxic ideological influence,” he added.
Ceyhun Mammadov believes that the provocative campaign conducted by Russian officials and the media against Azerbaijan is an openly hostile stance, and nothing more than political hypocrisy that undermines the concept of strategic partnership.
“Unfortunately, in recent times, we have witnessed an increasing number of provocative actions and statements against our country by Russian deputies, officials, and media outlets. Especially in the Russian media and among certain members of the State Duma, severe, radical, and slanderous information about Azerbaijan is being continuously disseminated. Such remarks are damaging to relations between the peoples of both countries. Azerbaijan has always been interested in developing relations with Russia. Our President has always paid special attention to these relations and approached the matter with utmost sensitivity. However, today we are observing the opposite — Russian officials, state institutions, and some members of the Duma are targeting our country, conducting consistent propaganda against Azerbaijan, and taking provocative steps. This seriously undermines bilateral relations. Such provocations, statements, and actions must end immediately,” he concluded.
The collapse of authoritarianism and imperial thinking
The deepening of chauvinism and ethnic discrimination in Russia poses a serious threat not only to the minority populations living in the country but also to the stability of the entire region. The Kremlin regime has long abandoned multiculturalism and international law in favor of an ideology built on fear, pressure, and hatred. The targeting of Azerbaijan is a manifestation of Russia’s post-imperial ambitions.
