Azerbaijan has canceled a planned parliamentary delegation visit to Moscow and suspended all cultural events involving Russia, citing violent incidents targeting Azerbaijanis in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.

According to an official statement from the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijan’s National Assembly), the delegation led by First Deputy Speaker Ali Ahmadov will not attend the 23rd session of the bilateral inter-parliamentary commission with Russia, scheduled in Moscow.

The statement attributes this decision to what it describes as “premeditated and demonstrative killings of Azerbaijanis and ethnically motivated violence” in Yekaterinburg, allegedly carried out by Russian law enforcement without proper legal procedures. It further claims that such incidents have become systematic in recent times.

In response, Azerbaijan has also suspended all cultural programs involving Russia. This includes concerts, festivals, performances, exhibitions, and other planned events organized by both state and private Azerbaijani institutions.

The Ministry of Culture announced that individuals who had purchased tickets in advance could contact the respective vendors or online platforms for refunds.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Baku’s accusations. Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the arrests and searches were conducted as part of criminal investigations into serious crimes committed in previous years. The suspects, she noted, are Russian citizens of Azerbaijani origin.

Earlier reports confirmed that during these operations in Yekaterinburg, Azerbaijani brothers were killed and others were injured.