Zakharova expressed hope for an early normalization of relations between Moscow and Baku.

Moscow is striving to ensure that the current difficult stage in relations with Baku does not drag on, and therefore the release of Russian citizens detained in Azerbaijan would be the right step in this direction. This was announced on July 24 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

"It is indeed a difficult stage in bilateral relations with Azerbaijan, to put it mildly. Russia is aiming to ensure that it does not drag on. We look forward to an early normalization — a significant step on this path would be the release of Russian citizens who continue to be held by the Azerbaijani authorities," the diplomat said at a briefing.

Zakharova recalled that the Foreign Ministry had already handed over a protest note to the Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia, demanding the release of Russian journalists and other Russian citizens immediately. She added that according to the available agency data, the Azerbaijani law enforcement authorities have no grounds to detain the Russians.

"We maintain contacts with the Azerbaijani side in this regard, including through law enforcement agencies," Zakharova said.

On the occasion: Kiev is trying to aggravate relations between Moscow and Baku

With his call to Aliyev, Zelensky wanted to provoke Baku into emotional actions.

On June 30, Azerbaijani security forces conducted an operation in the office of Sputnik Azerbaijan. At the same time, two Russian journalists were detained in Baku — Igor Kartavykh, the head of the agency's editorial office, and Evgeny Belousov, the editor-in-chief. Later, eight more Russian citizens were detained in the city. On July 2, the Russian Embassy in Baku reported that Russians had received complaints about the use of physical violence, document checks and visits by unknown persons.

On July 21, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that it was important for Russia to respect Russian citizens in Azerbaijan. The press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation noted that mutually beneficial cooperation based on mutual respect is observed between the states.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.