The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan announced the ban on all cultural and mass events related to Russia on the territory of the country. The duration of the restriction is not specified. About this it is said in the statement of the press service of the ministry.
“Cultural events planned to be held in Azerbaijan by state and private enterprises of Russia, including concerts, festivals, performances, exhibitions, etc., are cancelled,” – it is emphasized in the message.
The reason for such a step was “intentional and extrajudicial killings and acts of violence committed by Russian law enforcement agencies against Azerbaijanis because of their ethnicity in the Yekaterinburg region of the Russian Federation, and the fact that such cases have recently become systematic.” The ministry added that the funds for the purchased tickets will be returned “at relevant points of sale and on online platforms.”
On the morning of June 27, 2025, the FSB of the Russian Federation conducted large-scale searches in the places of residence of Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg, explaining it as an investigation into a murder that happened 24 years ago.
Among the victims was the large Safar family – brothers and cousins who own the popular restaurant “Caspii” in the city and other businesses. In total, 50 people were detained as “witnesses” and “suspects”. Five members of the family died during the raid, the circumstances of their death are currently unknown.
On June 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan officially protested to the Kremlin. On the same day, Azerbaijan canceled the planned visit of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Overchuk.
