On 30 June 2025, Azerbaijani authorities detained two individuals at the offices of Sputnik Azerbaijan, the local branch of Russia’s MIA “Rossiya Segodnya,” and removed them from the premises using special vehicles. According to Vesti.az, these detainees are confirmed to be officers of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), operating within the agency.
Background and escalation of Azerbaijan-Russia relations
The detention follows Azerbaijan’s decision in February 2025 to suspend Sputnik Azerbaijan’s operations after Moscow’s aggressive and offensive media coverage regarding the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger plane over Chechnya. Officially, Baku aimed to ensure parity between Azerbaijani state media working abroad and foreign journalists operating within Azerbaijan. The authorities demanded Sputnik’s staff numbers match those of Azerbaijani outlet AZERTAC’s employees in Russia.
However, Sputnik Azerbaijan did not comply and continued its operations unabated. The recent arrests come amid a marked deterioration in Azerbaijan–Russia relations, intensified by the 27 June 2025 killing of two Azerbaijanis and wounding of three others during an FSB operation in Yekaterinburg.
Russia’s waning influence in the South Caucasus
The developments highlight Russia’s persistent but increasingly futile attempts to assert dominance over its former Soviet neighbours. Following setbacks in Ukraine and Moldova, Azerbaijan’s firm stance signals a broader regional rejection of Moscow’s perceived neo-imperial ambitions.
Russia’s ongoing Special Military Operation (SMO) in Ukraine has severely strained its resources, limiting its ability to maintain influence in the South Caucasus. The Kremlin’s vision of a renewed USSR clashes with the rising assertion of sovereignty among post-Soviet states.
Impact on regional stability and future prospects
The Azerbaijan-Russia conflict underscores the failure of Moscow’s so-called “soft power” approach and the inefficiency of agencies like Rossotrudnichestvo, led by Yevgeny Primakov’s grandson.
Peace and stability in the South Caucasus hinge on recognising the rights of local peoples to self-determination free from external pressure and interference. The ongoing SMO illustrates how ignoring these rights can lead to protracted conflicts in which Russia itself risks defeat.
By re-engaging in confrontations with its neighbours, the Kremlin jeopardises peace and security without delivering benefits to ordinary Russians. The situation reinforces the urgent need for Moscow to end its costly military ventures and respect the sovereignty of neighbouring states.
