Russia Deports Azerbaijani Diaspora Leader
Russia deported Bakhtyar Gasanov, head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Moscow, after stripping him of Russian citizenship in September 2025 and detaining him in June 2026. Azerbaijan subsequently issued an arrest warrant and declared a wanted status for three Russians, including a Moscow 24 presenter and a transport ministry advisor, over comments in a YouTube show.
Consensus
- Bakhtyar Gasanov was deported from Russia.
- Gasanov was detained in June 2026 and held in a temporary detention center for foreigners.
- Gasanov was deprived of Russian citizenship in September 2025.
- The deportation occurred after his citizenship was revoked and he was held in a detention center.
- Azerbaijan announced an arrest warrant and wanted status for three Russians on August 17, 2026.
- The three Russians were accused of inciting hatred and terrorism based on comments in a YouTube show titled 'Чистота понимания' on July 14.
- The video recording of the show has been removed from YouTube and VK.
- Gasanov led the National-Cultural Autonomy of Azerbaijanis in Moscow since July 2022.
- Gasanov was associated with the Moscow government's Council on Interethnic Issues and the Moscow police's public council.
Points of divergence
- The reason for Gasanov's deportation is unknown. — mediazona
- The mutual persecution between Azerbaijan and Russia began in summer 2025, following mass raids on Azerbaijani diaspora members in Russia. — meduza
- Gasanov's citizenship was revoked due to 'links with shadow schemes, including facilitating illegal migration, counterfeiting, and creating conflict situations on ethnic grounds.' — tg_echoonline_news
- Gasanov's 2019 passport was marked as invalid on Gosuslugi. — tg_currenttime
- Gasanov was a member of the Moscow government's Council on Interethnic Issues. — tg_tvrain
Coverage (6 sources)
- Head of Azerbaijani diaspora in Moscow expelled from Russia; Azerbaijan opened cases against TV host of 'Moscow 24' and advisor to head of Ministry of Transport — Медиазона
- Russia expelled head of Azerbaijani diaspora in Moscow. Azerbaijan declared three Russians wanted — Meduza
- Leader of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Moscow deported from Russia — ЭХО / Новости
- Head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Moscow, Bahtiyar Gasanov, deported from Russia — Дождь
- Head of the Azerbaijani Diaspora in Moscow, Bahtiyar Gasanov, deported from Russia — Дождь (Telegram)
- Head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Moscow, Bahtiyar Gasanov, deported from Russia — Настоящее Время
Key entities
- Gasanov
- Russia
- Moscow
- APA
- Azerbaijan
- Ministry of Transport
- Moscow 24
- Caucasus Node
- General Procuracy
- State Services
- Agency
- Alexey Chadaev
- CVSIG
- Chairman of the National Cultural Autonomy of Azerbaijanis
More on Gasanov
- Blogger's Defense Appeals In Absentia Sentence
- Blogger Wants to Return to Russia After In Absentia Conviction
- Gusain Gusanov's lawyers will appeal the blogger's verdict