Zakharova: SBU plans to use Russians for provocations against Azerbaijan

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is going to take advantage of the current contradictions between Moscow and Baku to incite hatred on ethnic grounds. The diplomat claims that they are planning to use sabotage raids by mercenaries from Russia.

"According to the information we have, the Security Service of Ukraine intends to use the current Russian-Azerbaijani contradictions to incite hatred and enmity on ethnic grounds. In particular, we know about plans to use defectors from Russia who are ready to carry out sabotage against citizens, missions and cultural sites of Azerbaijan under the Russian flag for a reward," Zakharova said.

The plan is allegedly to "spread viral information about some kind of Russian aggression in the Azerbaijani, Turkish and European media space."

Последние новости
Vardanyan's family claims he was prevented from contacting the ombudsman
Human rights
Vardanyan's family claims he was prevented from contacting the ombudsman
16 March 2026

Relatives of convicted former Karabakh state minister, former Russian citizen, and billionaire Ruben Vardanyan reported that he was prevented from completing his appeal to Azerbaijan's Human Rights Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva. During a telephone conversation with his family on March 13, the call was forcibly terminated, preventing him from delivering his public message.

Ingushetia has declared three days off in honor of Eid al-Fitr
Society
Ingushetia has declared three days off in honor of Eid al-Fitr
16 March 2026

In honor of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, March 19, 20, and 21 have been declared days off in Ingushetia. According to the head of the republic, Makhmud-Ali Klimatov, this decision was made to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which began on February 17.

The European Union has once again emphasized that Georgia is moving in the
Politics
The European Union has once again emphasized that Georgia is moving in the "wrong direction"
16 March 2026

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, expressed concern about the situation in Georgia, which is "taking a serious turn," emphasizing that the country's government is "moving in the wrong direction." This statement was made ahead of a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the EU member states.

North Caucasus regions lead in official unemployment rates
Economy
North Caucasus regions lead in official unemployment rates
16 March 2026

According to the results of the fourth quarter of 2025, the North Caucasus regions ranked last in Russia's unemployment rankings, according to a RIA Novosti study. Ingushetia had the worst rate: 25.5% of the economically active population was unemployed, and the job search period lasted 5.8 months.