Diplomatic Rifts Deepen After Azerbaijani Brothers' Deaths in Russia

Two Azerbaijani brothers died after being arrested by Russian police, causing diplomatic tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan. The post-mortems showed the men were beaten to death, contradicting initial Russian claims of heart failure. This incident has spurred arrests and protests between the nations, intensifying the bilateral friction.

In a case heightening tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia, two Azerbaijani men allegedly died from beatings while in Russian police custody last week. The brothers, Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, were subjected to fatal force, leading to diplomatic disputes between the countries and accusations of extrajudicial killings by Azerbaijani officials.

Forensic examinations carried out in Azerbaijan concluded the men died from severe beatings. This contradicted initial reports from Russian officials stating the deaths were due to natural causes. The controversial deaths have sparked a series of retaliatory diplomatic actions from both nations.

In response to these deaths, Baku arrested Russian state media journalists, accusing them of illegal activities, while Russian law enforcement in Yekaterinburg conducted raids targeting ethnic Azerbaijanis. The unfolding diplomatic row underscores the fragile relations between the two nations.

(With inputs from agencies.)