Serik Maleyev: Azerbaijan rightfully expresses its protest against Russia
Baku, June 29, AZERTAC
“Contemporary Russian ideology is predominantly confrontational, perceiving the outside world primarily through the lens of threats,” said Serik Maleyev, a prominent Kazakh journalist, researcher, publicist, and head of the Altyn Orda media group, in an interview with AZERTAC, commenting on the incident in Yekaterinburg where Azerbaijanis were assaulted by law enforcement.
“The problem is that we face the consequences without understanding the root cause. The cause lies in the structure of the state and the ideology inherited from the Russian Empire. Interethnic conflicts led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, shaking the system and resulting in Gorbachev’s ousting,” Maleyev emphasized.
According to him, after the USSR’s dissolution, Russia developed a new state ideology centered on imposing the “Russian world” on other nations. “Within this framework, former Soviet republics are viewed as temporarily uncontrolled territories that must be brought back under Moscow’s control,” he noted.
Maleyev stated that this mindset inherently fosters intolerance toward national minorities and other peoples. “It’s no surprise that distrust toward non-Russians in Russia is growing, leading to more clashes. A clear example is the creation of ‘Russian communities,’ which are essentially directed against representatives of other nationalities, including Azerbaijanis,” he added.
He argued that these “Russian communities” have become a convenient tool for law enforcement to pressure businesses and generate profit, prioritizing personal interests over state ones. “The danger of this policy is that national minorities in Russia are beginning to seek ways to defend themselves. Initially, there is discontent, as seen among Azerbaijanis and Kyrgyz, followed by self-organization. Calls for creating a ‘Caucasus community’ are already emerging. If Uzbeks and Azerbaijanis join, this could lead to an uncontrollable, large-scale internal conflict,” Maleyev warned.
He stressed that Azerbaijan is rightfully expressing its protest through diplomatic channels, including by canceling the visit of Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister. “This is a correct and principled stance. I fully support Baku’s policy in this matter,” he added.
Maleyev also called on Azerbaijanis, Kyrgyz, and other peoples living in Russia to show solidarity and unite. “No one - neither law enforcement officers nor marginal figures hiding behind fake patriotic symbols - should be allowed to violate your rights,” he concluded.
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