Azerbaijan and Russia strengthen emergency response cooperation

A high-level meeting in Moscow between Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, Lieutenant General Rafail Mirzoyev, and Russia’s Minister of Civil Defense, Emergencies, and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, Lieutenant General Alexander Kurenkov, underscored growing

A high-level meeting in Moscow between Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, Lieutenant General Rafail Mirzoyev, and Russia’s Minister of Civil Defense, Emergencies, and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, Lieutenant General Alexander Kurenkov, underscored growing collaboration in disaster prevention and response.

Discussions focused on advancing cooperative efforts to address natural disasters and man-made accidents, with both sides praising the progress of the 2024-2026 Joint Action Plan, signed earlier this year in Baku.

This plan has already facilitated significant initiatives, including training sessions and seminars attended by Azerbaijani specialists at Russian centers such as the “Leader” rescue operations center and the Noginsk rescue center.

Azerbaijan also participated in the XV International Salon "Integrated Security - 2024" and observed oil spill response drills in the Caspian Sea conducted in Astrakhan in September. Academic collaboration has been another key outcome, with three joint scientific conferences and two advanced training courses organized under the support of the International Civil Defense Organization and Russian universities.

Looking to the future, the meeting emphasized the importance of deepening ties in emergency management. Azerbaijan plans to observe Russia’s “Safe Arctic - 2025” exercises in January, which aim to test technologies and strategies for disaster response in the Arctic.

These exercises are expected to lay the groundwork for joint participation in the “Caspian-2026” international drills. Additionally, both parties highlighted the significance of broader regional collaboration within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the International Civil Defense Organization.

Azerbaijan expressed its support for elevating the meetings of the CIS Interstate Council for Emergency Situations to the ministerial level, recognizing the potential for enhancing regional preparedness and response mechanisms.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Azerbaijan and Russia to strengthening emergency response capabilities, fostering innovation, and bolstering regional security in the face of increasing natural and industrial risks.

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