On July 7, amid diplomatic tensions, Russian and Azerbaijani officials reaffirmed their strategic partnership through coordinated human rights dialogues, high-level statements, and cultural clarifications, while Russian delegations arrived in Baku for emergency cooperation talks and informal bilateral consultations.

Tatyana Moskalkova: "Sabina Aliyeva Vowed To Take Necessary Measures In Detention Case"

Tatyana Moskalkova, the Human Rights Commissioner of the Russian Federation, announced that her Azerbaijani counterpart, Sabina Aliyeva, had promptly responded to her appeal regarding the detention of Russian citizens and pledged to take appropriate measures to ensure justice. Moskalkova stated that she had requested Aliyeva to review the situation and act within her authority to uphold legality. "She replied immediately that my request had been accepted and that she would take all necessary measures to verify this information," Moskalkova added.

Russian Officials Praise Azerbaijan’s Consistent Reliability

Commenting on the state of bilateral relations, Leonid Slutsky, the leader of Russia’s LDPR party, noted that although there were attempts to create friction between Russia and Azerbaijan over the Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan had consistently proven to be a reliable partner. "Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is one of our most reliable partners," Slutsky emphasized.

Echoing this sentiment, Dmitry Peskov, the Russian Presidential Spokesperson, underscored the importance of preserving strategic ties between the two countries. "We still support and believe that logic says only one thing: that Russia and Azerbaijan are and must remain close partners, allies, and countries united by a common history, a common present, and a common future," Peskov stated. He stressed that all emerging issues should be addressed constructively and recalled ongoing communication between the heads of Russia’s Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, and Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov with their Azerbaijani counterparts.

Azerbaijani Ministry Denies Cultural Cooperation Plans With Russia

On the same day, the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan dismissed reports circulating on certain news platforms and social media about a supposed initiative to enhance cultural cooperation with Russia. The ministry described the document in question as a fabrication, stating, "This fake document has no connection with the Ministry of Culture. The ministry did not prepare or distribute such a document."

Russia Sends High-Level Delegation To Baku For ICDO And Bilateral Talks

Meanwhile, Alexander Kurenkov, the Russian Minister of Emergency Situations, arrived in Baku to attend a meeting of the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO). The session’s central topic is the election of a new secretary general for the ICDO, an entity that unites emergency services from over 60 nations and provides humanitarian support globally. According to state-controlled Russian and Azerbaijani media, the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations plans to hold informal talks with the Azerbaijani side on normalizing bilateral relations. The delegation sent by Russia to Baku includes Gazprom Vice President Famil Sadigov, originally from Nakhchivan; former Gazprom Vice President Viktor Kalyuga, a Tatar by origin; a special delegation from the Lukoil group of companies; and several other businessmen.