Tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan have escalated following the detention of approximately 50 Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg in connection with a murder case from over 20 years ago, resulting in the deaths of two detainees. The incident has sparked outrage in Baku, with autopsies indicating the two individuals died from beatings while in Russian custody. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia has not threatened Azerbaijan and attributed the tensions to attempts by Ukraine, specifically President Volodymyr Zelensky's engagement with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, to undermine Russia-Azerbaijan relations and provoke rash actions from Baku. Despite the diplomatic crisis, Moscow and Baku remain in constant communication, with Russian Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin in contact with Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General to address problematic issues. The Kremlin also expressed concerns that "certain forces" are deliberately trying to disrupt bilateral ties. Additionally, Russia reportedly expressed displeasure over Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Azerbaijan amid the ongoing diplomatic strain, raising questions about Tehran's position. Experts suggest that external actors are influencing the crisis as part of broader geopolitical maneuvering in the Caucasus region. Azerbaijan has long been dissatisfied with Moscow's behavior, and the current rift reflects shifting power dynamics in the area.