Amnesty International has launched a call for thorough investigations into what they describe as severe human rights abuses against detainees in Russia and Azerbaijan. The call, issued on Thursday, targets the alleged mistreatment and wrongful detention of individuals based on their ethnicity and nationality, in what the rights group condemns as "tit for tat policing operations."

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, expressed grave concerns over the actions of both nations. "The authorities in both Russia and Azerbaijan have shown complete disregard for human dignity and open contempt for their human rights obligations," said Struthers. She highlighted that torture and other forms of ill-treatment are strictly prohibited under international law, emphasizing that there is never a justification for such actions.

The recent incidents that sparked this outcry include the detention of about 50 ethnic Azeris by Russian authorities in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on June 27. These individuals were detained for alleged past crimes, but reports from within suggest that they were subjected to torture. Tragically, two detainees died while in custody, with Russian officials attributing the deaths to heart failure.

In what appears to be a retaliatory move, Azerbaijani authorities detained at least eight Russian nationals between June 30 and July 1 in Baku, Azerbaijan. These individuals, held on charges ranging from espionage to drug trafficking, have also reported abuses during their custody.

These incidents occur against a backdrop of increasing tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan, exacerbated by political strains following the Russo-Ukrainian War. An incident last December further strained relations when an Azerbaijani aircraft crashed in Russian airspace, allegedly shot down by Russian missile defense systems.

Amnesty International's call for an independent and impartial investigation into these detentions highlights significant concerns regarding the rule of law in both countries. As these nations share significant economic, geographic, and cultural ties, the implications of these detainments extend beyond mere bilateral relations, suggesting a deepening diplomatic crisis.

With each country accusing the other of ethnically and nationally motivated targeting, the international community watches closely, awaiting responses from Russian and Azerbaijani authorities to Amnesty's pressing call for justice and transparency.