Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on August 18 that remarks made by three Russian citizens wanted by Azerbaijan do not represent Moscow’s position, while stressing that Russia would protect their rights if necessary.

The comments concerned Ivan Knyazev (a presenter with Moscow 24), political consultant and media expert Semyon Uralov, and journalist and adviser to the Russian transport minister Alexei Chadayev. Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office placed the three on an international wanted list on August 17 over statements that Azerbaijani authorities described as threatening to the country’s constitutional order and territorial integrity.

Zakharova noted that Moscow believes Russian-Azerbaijani relations should continue within the existing bilateral legal framework and that the statements attributed to the three individuals should not be interpreted as reflecting the Russian government’s position toward Azerbaijan. She also highlighted that Russia would protect the “legitimate rights and interests” of its citizens in connection with the Azerbaijani decision.

Meanwhile, Zakharova criticized what she described as “unfriendly narratives” toward Russia in Azerbaijan’s media environment. She pointed out Moscow had repeatedly proposed direct consultations with Azerbaijani officials to improve the information environment without politicization or media pressure.

The statements followed a sharp deterioration in Azerbaijani-Russian relations. On August 18, Azerbaijan summoned Russian Ambassador Mikhail Yevdokimov and formally protested what it described as provocative, insulting, and threatening rhetoric in Russian media targeting Azerbaijan, its population and leadership.

Baku specifically cited broadcasts and publications from Russian media platforms and said discussion of interference in Azerbaijan’s internal political affairs and calls for physical violence were unacceptable. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on Moscow to take measures to stop such rhetoric.

The latest exchange between the two governments comes as the dispute increasingly involves media figures and politically sensitive statements, with both sides publicly rejecting positions expressed by actors linked to the other country while continuing to maintain formal diplomatic relations.