AZE.US
Azerbaijanis living in Russia must unite against what Azerbaijani commentator Telman Gasimov described as “the Putin regime,” support one another and refuse to fight in Moscow’s war against Ukraine, he said in a video address.
Gasimov argued that Russia had become a chaotic and unpredictable state in which Azerbaijanis could face official pressure, ethnic discrimination and forced or financially motivated recruitment into the military.
He said wealth, profession and social status would not protect Azerbaijanis from the policies of the Russian authorities.
“The Putin regime is a very strange and dangerous regime,” Gasimov said. “Azerbaijanis in Russia must unite, become a force and support one another.”
Gasimov also urged Azerbaijanis to avoid living near military, energy and other strategic infrastructure that could become targets as the war continues. He suggested temporarily leaving such areas or selling property located near potential targets.
Azerbaijanis Warned Against Joining Russian Army
Gasimov said he had recently watched TikTok footage showing sealed coffins containing people reportedly killed in the war. He claimed that Azerbaijani names appeared among those shown.
The origin of the footage and the identities of the deceased have not been independently verified.
Gasimov questioned why young Azerbaijanis would agree to serve in the Russian military and fight against Ukraine, describing the front as a “meat grinder.”
“Why did you go there? You know that this is a meat grinder and that the Ukrainian front is extremely dangerous,” he said.
He claimed that Ukrainian forces were currently more disciplined and organized than Russian units. Gasimov also alleged that Russia lacked adequate oversight and accountability for soldiers killed or reported missing.
According to him, some servicemen could disappear without their families receiving reliable information about their fate.
‘Poverty Does Not Justify Going to War’
Gasimov also criticized Gurban Mammadov, an Azerbaijani political activist living in Britain, who had linked the participation of Azerbaijani nationals in the Russian military to unemployment and economic hardship in Azerbaijan.
Gasimov rejected that explanation, saying poverty could not justify joining the Russian army and taking part in the invasion of Ukraine.
He noted that Azerbaijanis unable to find work at home could seek employment in Belarus or other countries instead of signing military contracts in Russia.
“People may genuinely face financial hardship, but that does not mean they should go to war for money,” Gasimov said.
He warned that portraying participation in the war as an understandable response to unemployment could encourage other young Azerbaijanis to make the same decision.
Gasimov called on Azerbaijani families and diaspora organizations to warn young people about Russian military recruitment and the potentially fatal consequences of deployment to Ukraine.
His central message was that Azerbaijanis in Russia should not remain isolated or attempt to protect themselves individually. Instead, he said, they must unite in opposition to the Putin regime and organize mutual support for members of the community facing pressure.
AZE.US