Moscow: Ukrainian political scientist Oleksandr Kovalenko has sharply criticized Russia’s aggressive and repressive policies, which he claims are being systematically enforced against non-Russian ethnic groups, including Azerbaijani citizens.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Kovalenko highlights the Kremlin’s chauvinistic and Islamophobic strategies, which he believes are deeply rooted in the state’s ideological framework under President Vladimir Putin’s regime. He argues that these policies go beyond mere trends, forming the core of what he describes as “new Putinism.”
The Ukrainian expert draws attention to recent events in Yekaterinburg, where Federal Security Service (FSB) agents conducted a violent operation against an Azerbaijani family. This incident resulted in the death of two Azerbaijani brothers, with several others injured and brought before a court. Kovalenko asserts that this is not an isolated event but rather indicative of Russia’s broader discriminatory policy against non-Russians, which he believes treats Turkic and Muslim peoples as second-class citizens.
Kovalenko further elaborates on Russia’s state policy of religious, racial, and ethnic discrimination, which he claims restricts access to social services and economic opportunities for non-Russians. He points out that being Muslim or having a Turkic surname in Russia is considered a risk, with Islam and its symbols being portrayed as threats by Russian media.
The political scientist emphasizes that Russia’s historical attempts to assimilate other nations continue today, with the Kremlin treating non-Russian ethnic groups as either obedient subjects or adversaries. Citing Russia’s actions against Ukraine, Kovalenko argues that the country’s imperial nature has persisted, with the Kremlin exploiting other nations economically and militarily. He highlights that since 2025, a significant number of migrants in Russia have been detained and mobilized for the war in Ukraine, an act he describes as human trafficking and ethnic cleansing through forced conscription.
Kovalenko also criticizes Russian security forces for their violent actions against non-Russian nationalities, stating that these actions are often normalized by society and used as a means to distract from the country’s economic struggles. He warns that Azerbaijan’s independent policy is intolerable to Russia, leading to increased pressure on Baku. Despite this, Azerbaijan maintains its firm stance, which Kovalenko believes makes Azerbaijani citizens in Russia particularly vulnerable to risks and pressures.
In conclusion, Kovalenko urges caution for foreigners in Russia, emphasizing the increasing threats and risks they face due to the Kremlin’s oppressive policies. He believes that Russia’s inability to exert pressure through conventional means results in the use of terror against non-Russian ethnic groups, which he deems politically unacceptable.