**Azerbaijani Police Detain Two Russian FSB Agents Amid Escalating Tensions**
In a move that highlights the deteriorating relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani police have detained two alleged agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on June 30. The arrests come as part of a broader crackdown by Baku against Russian state-controlled media outlet Sputnik, which has been operating in the country.
**Background to the Detentions**
The detentions are linked to a major incident that took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where over 50 Azerbaijanis were detained on June 27 as part of a murder investigation. Unfortunately, two people lost their lives during these detentions, and three others suffered serious injuries. This has led to widespread outrage in Azerbaijan, with the government calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.
**Azerbaijan’s Response**
In response to the incident, Azerbaijan has taken several measures to escalate tensions with Russia. On June 29, the country’s Culture Ministry announced that all planned cultural events hosted alongside Russian state and private organizations had been cancelled. This decision was made in light of the two deaths during the Yekaterinburg raid.
**Sputnik’s Role**
The searches at Sputnik’s office in Baku were part of a broader effort by Azerbaijani authorities to crack down on Russian propaganda media outlets operating in the country. In February, Azerbaijan ordered Sputnik to suspend its activities, citing a desire for parity between state media operations abroad and foreign journalists in the country.
**Russian Response**
The Russian Foreign Ministry has responded to the detentions by claiming that they were carried out as part of an investigation into serious crimes committed in Russia between 2001 and 2011. However, Azerbaijan remains unconvinced, calling on Moscow to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the deaths during the Yekaterinburg raid.
**What’s Next?**
As tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold. One thing is certain: the detentions of two Russian FSB agents have added fuel to an already volatile fire. Will Moscow and Baku find a way to resolve their differences, or will relations continue to deteriorate?
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