Russian official calls for banning ethnic diaspora organizations in Russia

(MENAFN) Marina Akhmedova, a member of Russia’s presidential human rights council, has called for the banning of all ethnic diaspora organizations in Russia, labeling them “illegal entities.” Her statement came amid escalating tensions following police raids in Yekaterinburg targeting an alleged organized crime group composed of Russian nationals of Azerbaijani origin, accused of contract killings dating back to the early 2000s. Two elderly suspects died during the operation, sparking outrage in Azerbaijan, which accused Moscow of ethnic targeting.

Akhmedova’s Telegram post declared, “it is time to abolish diasporas,” insisting that no government agency should be involved with such groups. This demand extends beyond the Azerbaijani diaspora, which numbers over 620,000 people in Russia according to a 2002 census.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani authorities have detained and jailed several Russian nationals, including senior journalists from Sputnik Azerbaijan, accusing them of illegal financing and involvement in cybercrime and drug trafficking—charges denied by the news agency. These developments have further strained Moscow-Baku relations.

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