Russia is pushing hard to bring back 11 citizens held in Azerbaijan,Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Speaking to Vesti,she stressed their quick release could help normalize ties between the nations.
These Russians were detained late June 2025,then an Azerbaijani court extended their custody on July 1 for four months. On October 28,2025,detention was stretched another three months. They're accused of serious crimes: drug trafficking,cyber fraud .
Mikhail Kalugin,head of the ministry's fourth CIS countries department,backed Zakharova,noting their release would mark key step in Russia-Azerbaijan relations. Ongoing diplomatic pushes show a wider goal to boost cooperation and dialogue.
As talks progress,focus stays on what this case means for future relations. Could this outcome open doors for better ties? Russian government knows solving this could lead to more productive relations…but will it?
