Russia’s use of Azerbaijani migrants exposes dark economics of war [OPINION] |
The participation of Azerbaijani citizens and ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine raises deeply troubling ethical, legal, and humanitarian questions. While Moscow describes the conflict as a special military operation, the realities on the ground expose a system that increasingly relies on coercion, financial desperation, and manipulation of vulnerable communities. For Azerbaijanis drawn into this war, whether as Russian citizens, migrant workers, or former veterans of the forty-four-day Patriotic War, participation is neither justifiable nor defensible.
How Russia exploits Azerbaijani migrants and veterans for its war
Some Azerbaijanis fighting on the Russian side are formally Russian citizens. Their legal status, however, does not absolve the Russian state of responsibility for the conditions under which recruitment takes place. Many are mobilised through pressure rather than genuine consent, facing limited alternatives in an environment where refusal can lead to social or economic punishment. Citizenship in this context becomes less a matter of civic duty and more a tool of enforced compliance.
A second group consists of Azerbaijani migrants working in Russia. This is where the moral failure of Russia's recruitment system becomes most apparent. Migrants........