Tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan continued as Aleksey Chadayev, an adviser to Russia’s transport minister and a journalist, resigned from his post. Chadayev announced his decision after Azerbaijan issued an arrest warrant for him.
Azerbaijani prosecutors also charged political commentator Semyon Uralov and Ivan Knyazev, a presenter on the state television channel Moscow 24, and issued arrest warrants for them. Azerbaijani authorities accused the three men of calling for the violent overthrow of the government, inciting ethnic hatred and calling for terrorism.
Online broadcasts at the center of the investigation
The allegations concern remarks allegedly made during live broadcasts on the YouTube channel “Chistota Ponimaniya” in the summer and August. The broadcast from July was later removed from the platform, leaving it unclear which statements formed the basis of the charges.
The channel’s management announced that it would suspend its broadcasting activities following the charges.
Baku delivers a strong protest to Russia
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador to Baku and conveyed serious concern and a strong protest over “provocative, insulting and threatening” statements directed at Azerbaijan in the Russian media.
The ministry said it expected Russia to take urgent and effective steps to end provocations, threats and rhetoric calling for violence in the information and media spheres.
Moscow offers a defense for those accused
Chadayev announced his resignation on Telegram. He said personal expert views and public statements should not harm relations between states or prevent governments from working together.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the views expressed by the three commentators in no way reflected Moscow’s position toward Azerbaijan or its relations with Azerbaijan.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Russian government was ready to provide legal defense for those accused. Zakharova also claimed that anti-Russian rhetoric was continuously appearing in Azerbaijani media. She called for concerns about the media environments in the two countries to be addressed through calm, nonpoliticized and nonsensational expert discussions.
Relations deteriorated after the plane crash
Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan worsened further after an Azerbaijani passenger plane was accidentally shot down by Russia in December 2024, killing 38 people. Russia accepted responsibility for the incident, but tensions between the two countries continued with reciprocal arrests of their citizens.
Russian security forces expelled the head of an Azerbaijani diaspora organization in Moscow this week. No official reason was given for the deportation of the person whose Russian citizenship was revoked last year.
