Yekaterinburg: The Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday rejected Azerbaijan's claims regarding the detention of several ethnic Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg, asserting that the individuals in question are Russian citizens suspected of serious past crimes.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Sverdlovsk Region has already addressed the matter. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the ministry, responded to Azerbaijan's condemnation of the June 27 raids by clarifying that the suspects, although of Azerbaijani descent, are Russian nationals apprehended as part of investigations into significant criminal activities.

Zakharova noted that the Russian charg© d'affaires in Baku, Pavel Volokov, was summoned to Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry on June 28. During this meeting, he provided necessary explanations and assured Azerbaijani officials that the situation was being managed appropriately.

She further mentioned that ongoing investigative actions are related to the criminal cases in question, and promised that more detailed information would be disclosed by the Investigative Committee as it becomes available.

Earlier, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern about the operations, claiming that some Azerbaijani nationals had been killed or seriously injured, with nine others detained. Baku has called for an immediate investigation and for those responsible for the alleged violence to be prosecuted.

These events unfold amid broader tensions between Moscow and Baku over ethnic and diaspora issues. However, both nations have previously committed to cooperation on security matters.