Azerbaijani diaspora leader stripped of Russian citizenship

Asif Mammadov, head of the Regional Public Organization “National-Cultural Autonomy of Azerbaijanis of the Ivanovo Region,” has been stripped of Russian citizenship.

According to Russian Telegram channels, the decision was taken by the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) on the grounds of activities allegedly posing a threat to national security.

Mammadov, who is also a businessman, withdrew from last year’s City Duma elections after facing accusations of insufficient knowledge of the Russian language and alleged “loyalty to the President of Azerbaijan.”

No detailed official statement on the decision has been released so far.