Fact Check: Azerbaijan Withdraws from Bilateral Meeting with Russia Amid Tensions
What We Know
Recent developments indicate that Azerbaijan has indeed withdrawn from a scheduled bilateral meeting with Russia. This decision follows a significant diplomatic fallout after the deaths of two ethnic Azerbaijani citizens during police raids in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The Azerbaijani Culture Ministry announced the cancellation of various Russian-linked cultural events, citing "demonstrative targeted and extrajudicial killings" by Russian law enforcement as the reason for their actions (The Moscow Times, ABC News).
In addition to canceling cultural events, Azerbaijan's parliament also withdrew from an upcoming bilateral meeting in Moscow and canceled a visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk. The Azerbaijani government stated that it did not find it appropriate for any Russian official to visit the country under the current circumstances (ABC News, The Moscow Times).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim that Azerbaijan has withdrawn from a bilateral meeting with Russia is robust. Multiple credible sources report that the Azerbaijani government has taken a strong stance against Russia following the deaths of its citizens, which they attribute to violent actions by Russian law enforcement. The cancellation of cultural events and the withdrawal from diplomatic meetings are significant actions that reflect the deteriorating relationship between the two nations.
The sources used for this fact-check are reputable news outlets, including The Moscow Times and ABC News, which are known for their journalistic integrity and thorough reporting. The information is corroborated across these sources, providing a reliable basis for the claim.
While there may be some bias in the reporting, particularly from sources that may lean towards Azerbaijani perspectives, the consistency of the reported events across multiple outlets lends credibility to the claim. The context of rising tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia, particularly after previous incidents, further supports the likelihood that Azerbaijan's actions are a direct response to the recent events in Yekaterinburg.
Conclusion
The claim that Azerbaijan has withdrawn from a bilateral meeting with Russia amid tensions is True. The evidence indicates that Azerbaijan's government has taken significant diplomatic actions in response to the deaths of its citizens in Russia, reflecting a serious deterioration in relations between the two countries.
