Russian Emergencies Minister arrives in Azerbaijan

The head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry Alexander Kurenkov arrived on July 7 in Baku is attending a meeting of the International Civil Defense Organization, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation reported.

"Today, the head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, Alexander Kurenkov, arrived in Azerbaijan to participate in the meeting of the Executive Council and the General Assembly of the International Civil Defense Organization (IGO). The key issue on the agenda is the election of the secretary general of this organization, which unites emergency services of more than 60 states on its platform and provides humanitarian assistance around the world," the Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

The visit takes place against the background of the aggravation of the cooling between Moscow and Baku caused by the arrests of members of an ethnic group in Yekaterinburg and the retaliatory mass detentions of Russians in Azerbaijan. Russophobic statements were made in Baku, including the cancellation of all cultural events in the country through Russia.