Azerbaijan imposes visa restrictions on Russian citizens

The government of Azerbaijan has announced new visa restrictions for Russian citizens, limiting their stay in the country to a maximum of 90 days per year without a visa. The decision will take effect on January 1, 2025.

According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the move is a reciprocal response to Moscow’s imposition of a similar 90-day limit for Azerbaijani citizens in Russia.

The announcement comes in the aftermath of a tragic plane crash on December 25, when an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft traveling from Baku to Grozny crashed over Kazakh territory. The disaster claimed 38 lives, with 29 passengers surviving.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the plane was damaged by gunfire from the ground. He demanded Russia acknowledge the act, punish those responsible, and provide compensation to the Azerbaijani state, as well as to the injured passengers and crew members.