An adviser to Russia’s transportation minister has stepped down after Azerbaijan issued a warrant for his arrest over comments made during YouTube livestreams earlier this summer.
Prosecutors in Azerbaijan announced Monday that they had charged and issued arrest warrants for Alexei Chadayev, a journalist and adviser to Russia’s transportation minister, alongside political commentator Semyon Uralov and Ivan Knyazev, a presenter on the state-run Moscow 24 news channel.
The three men were accused of making calls for the violent overthrow of the Azerbaijani government, inciting ethnic hatred and issuing public calls for terrorism. The charges stem from comments they were said to have made during July and August livestreams for the YouTube channel “Chistota Ponimaniya.”
The July livestream in question has since been removed from YouTube, leaving it unclear which specific comments triggered the charges. The “Chistota Ponimaniya” channel said it was “taking a break” following the allegations.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador to Baku on Tuesday to express “serious concern and firm protest” over “provocative, insulting and threatening statements” made against Azerbaijan in Russian media.
“Our expectation to take urgent and effective measures to end the provocations, threats and violent rhetoric against Azerbaijan in the information and media space was once again conveyed to the Russian side,” the ministry said in a statement.
Following the announcement of the charges, Chadayev said Tuesday that he would resign from his post at Russia’s Transportation Ministry.
“The logic behind my decision is straightforward: I don’t believe anyone’s personal expert opinion or public statements should impact interstate relations or create obstacles for joint government efforts,” Chadayev wrote on Telegram.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry sought to distance itself from the views of the three “Chistota Ponimaniya” commentators, stating they “in no way reflect Moscow’s position towards Azerbaijan or our relations with the Republic.”
However, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Russian government stands ready to provide legal defense for the accused men, alleging that “hostile narratives toward Russia are also constantly present in Azerbaijan’s media landscape.”
“We have repeatedly invited our Azerbaijani colleagues to address these media environment concerns in a calm, non-politicized, and non-sensationalized manner through specialized consultations,” said Zakharova, who has previously appeared as a guest on “Chistota Ponimaniya.”
Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have grown increasingly strained after a Russian missile accidentally shot down an Azerbaijani passenger plane in December 2024, killing 38 people. While Russia acknowledged responsibility for the deadly incident, tensions have persisted, accompanied by reciprocal arrests of each other’s citizens.
Earlier this week, Russian law enforcement authorities deported the head of an Azerbaijani diaspora organization in Moscow who had been stripped of his Russian citizenship last year, though official reasons for the deportation were not disclosed.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
