The report of the detention of an Azerbaijani in Stavropol is connected with the crisis in relations between Moscow and Baku

The disclosure of information about the Azerbaijani citizen detained in the case of preparing a terrorist attack in Stavropol became possible against the backdrop of mutual claims between Moscow and Baku, analysts believe.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, on September 8 it became known that security forces in Stavropol detained an Azerbaijani citizen in the case of preparing a terrorist attack. According to the FSB, he was preparing terrorist attacks in Yessentuki and Stavropol on orders from a Ukrainian terrorist organization, planning to use the experience he gained while serving in the special forces of the armed forces of Azerbaijan. In the recording released by the security forces, a young man, who identified himself as a native of Mingechevir, swears allegiance to a certain "national liberation battalion".

Retired Interior Ministry Colonel Amir Kolov is confident that the publication of information that security forces in Stavropol detained an Azerbaijani citizen in a case of preparing a terrorist attack is the result of tense relations between Moscow and Baku.

"The complication of political relations between Russia and Azerbaijan is clearly reflected mainly in the publication of such information. The fact that Azerbaijan is pursuing an openly hostile policy towards Russia in the international arena will lead to the identification or publicity of many more such cases,” he told the “Caucasian Knot.”

According to him, it is difficult to say whether the detainee was a victim of political games. “But the characteristics of the person himself, who was trained in special forces, and his not entirely motivated presence on the territory of Russia incline me to the version that the FSB officers of Russia worked out this operation effectively,” he noted.

The confession of the detainee in the video footage published by the FSB is not proof of his guilt, the colonel is sure.

“As for the confession of the detainee himself, I believe that this is not an indicator of his guilt, since today in Russia any person can be forced under torture to be involved in criminal activity. We were convinced of this in the example of the Dagestani journalist and blogger, seventy-year-old Ramazan Rabadanov, who was detained, in our opinion, on the orders of interested parties and tortured in the dungeons of security forces until he confessed that he walked around the center of Makhachkala with a grenade and a combat pistol in his pocket,” he recalled.

During the information war, no version inspires confidence, says the chairman of the regional Union of Journalists Vasily Balditsyn.

“I don’t see any direct inconsistencies in the FSB version. Everything could have really been as presented in the official version. Or it could have been different. No one can know for sure,” he told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

At the same time, he notes that the behavior of the Azerbaijani citizen not typical for a migrant.

"The behavior of someone who came to work is quite possible, but not typical. I do not rule out such behavior. The person came for money and if someone offers him easier money, so to speak, then why not agree. Especially since the person who came clearly does not belong to the intellectual elite of his country," he said.

There is no doubt that the publication of such information was the result of the complicated relations between Moscow and Baku.  

"Yes, this is the result of complications between Baku and Moscow. Relations are tense and, in principle, any episode, especially of a criminal nature, brings grist to someone's mill. This is done both in Azerbaijan and in Russia. On the other hand, closer attention to people from Azerbaijan, so to speak, is overdue," he said.

A Stavropol journalist, who wished to remain anonymous, agrees with Balditsyn's opinion.

“If relations between Moscow and Baku were at the level of early 2024, we would not have seen such reports. But a lot has happened recently, relations have worsened and the two countries are using every opportunity to score so-called political points,” he told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

He sees no reason to doubt the FSB’s version. “We are now talking about the fact that this information has become available. We are not saying that this person is guilty or not. I personally cannot say anything, since there is no available information. And here it should be noted that, unfortunately, we are unlikely to find out what really happened,” he said.  

The absence of a unit with which a native of Azerbaijan collaborated on the list of terrorist organizations cannot be grounds for dropping charges against the detainee, believes the director of the Sova research center* Alexander Verkhovsky.

“In principle, of course, a person can be a member of a terrorist group that has not yet been officially recognized as such. I have not heard about this particular battalion, but you never know that exists in the world," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to him, it cannot be concluded that this organization does not actually exist, since it is not on the FSB list.

"It may be new or old, but not included in the list. There are probably a great many terrorist groups - or those that someone considers to be such," he noted.

* is included in the register of foreign agents.

** the activities of the Meta company (which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) are prohibited in Russia