Azerbaijan-Russia Tensions: Spies, Deaths, and Retaliation

The provided texts highlight escalating tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan, marked by Azerbaijan's recent actions against alleged Russian intelligence operatives and its strong condemnation of violence against its citizens in Russia. Azerbaijan detained two FSB agents operating under journalistic cover, closed Sputnik's office, and publicly canceled cultural events and a high-level Russian visit in response to the deaths of two Azerbaijanis in Russia following police raids. This firm stance by Baku signals a deliberate shift away from discreet diplomacy, sending a clear message to Moscow. Concurrently, separate reports detail a surge in arrests and executions in Iran of individuals accused of collaborating with Israel, particularly since a recent conflict. These actions, described by human rights organizations as weaponizing the death penalty, underscore Iran's severe crackdown on perceived internal threats and foreign intelligence activities.T