Fact Check: Azerbaijan cancels all Russian cultural events after police killings.

Fact Check: Azerbaijan Cancels All Russian Cultural Events After Police Killings

What We Know

Azerbaijan has officially canceled all cultural events planned by Russian state and private institutions. This decision was made in response to the deaths of two Azerbaijani citizens during police raids in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The Azerbaijani Culture Ministry announced that concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and performances would be canceled due to what they termed “demonstrative targeted and extrajudicial killings” by Russian law enforcement against Azerbaijanis based on ethnic grounds (AP News, The Moscow Times).

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires in Baku to demand a full investigation into the incident, which involved the deaths of two men identified as Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, both around 60 years old. Reports indicate that these individuals were allegedly tortured to death during the raids, which were part of a broader operation targeting an ethnic criminal group (ABC News, Arab News).

Analysis

The claim that Azerbaijan has canceled all Russian cultural events in response to police killings is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The Azerbaijani Culture Ministry's announcement was widely reported, confirming the cancellation of events as a direct protest against the violence inflicted on its citizens in Russia (TVP World, Kyiv Independent).

The context surrounding the police raids in Yekaterinburg is critical. Russian authorities claimed that the raids targeted individuals linked to past crimes, but the Azerbaijani government has labeled the actions as extrajudicial killings driven by ethnic discrimination. This reflects a significant diplomatic rift between Azerbaijan and Russia, which has been exacerbated by previous incidents and ongoing tensions (Goshen News, Arab News).

The reliability of the sources reporting these events is high, as they include established news organizations with a history of accurate reporting. The statements from the Azerbaijani government and the subsequent actions taken are corroborated by multiple outlets, indicating a consensus on the events that transpired.

Conclusion

The claim that Azerbaijan has canceled all Russian cultural events following police killings is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that the Azerbaijani government made this decision as a direct response to the deaths of its citizens during police actions in Russia. The situation highlights the strained relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, driven by ethnic tensions and recent violent incidents.

Fact Check: Azerbaijan cancels all Russian cultural events after police killings.