Impunity for the incident in Yekaterinburg will lead to cooling of relations with Russia - OPINION

If those responsible for the Yekaterinburg incident are not punished, a period of cooling in relations between the two countries may begin.

This was stated to Report by Doctor of Philosophy in Law Alovsat Allahverdiyev.

According to him, the large-scale operation conducted on June 27 in the apartments of Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg causes serious concern and requires assessment from both legal and humanitarian perspectives: "When assessing such a situation, it is necessary to adhere to a balanced and human rights-based legal position. This incident calls into question the observance of the principles of proportionality and the validity of law enforcement measures against people based on their ethnicity. The approach to the case should be legally transparent and fair. An official, clear, and open explanation of the legal grounds for the incident, the reasons for the operation, and the actions of law enforcement agencies that led to such serious consequences is required."

The lawyer noted that first of all, it is necessary to investigate the use of firearms by Russian law enforcement agencies during the operation, which resulted in the death of two people, from the perspective of the principles of proportionality and extreme necessity of using force within the framework of international law and human rights. "An immediate and independent investigation into the causes of the deaths is required, as well as establishing whether there were legal grounds for the use of violence. Accusations against the detainees should be considered within the framework of the legal process with full protection of their rights. Such harsh actions by Russia against Azerbaijanis may be related to a number of factors: ethnic discrimination, geopolitical pressure, the authoritarian nature of the law enforcement system, and the struggle for economic influence."

A. Allahverdiyev noted that Azerbaijan should respond to such cases both through diplomatic and legal protection mechanisms and by involving international pressure and monitoring tools. "This incident raises serious concerns about the security and protection of the rights of millions of Azerbaijanis living in Russia. People may feel more vulnerable, and some families may decide to return or move to other countries. This, in turn, may weaken the real participation of Azerbaijanis in the Russian economy and reduce the level of loyalty of the diaspora (regional) towards Moscow."

The lawyer emphasized that what happened is a serious blow to Russian-Azerbaijani relations. "For many years, relations between Azerbaijan and Russia have been built on the principles of pragmatism and balance. However, this incident demonstrates that if the security and rights of Azerbaijani citizens and compatriots are violated, the foundation of these relations may be undermined. If the Russian side does not provide an objective and transparent explanation of what happened and does not hold those responsible accountable, this could mark the beginning of a new stage of cooling in bilateral relations."