Khalid Tagizade, a deputy of the Duma of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and a native of Azerbaijan, has left Russia amid mounting pressure from federal authorities, Azerbaijani outlet Haqqin.az reports. According to Russian media, Tagizade flew to Azerbaijan on June 3.
The controversy began during a session of the regional legislature, when several deputies expressed concern over declining birth rates among the indigenous population and a simultaneous increase in the number of migrants and their children. In response, Khalid Tagizade remarked that migrants were, in fact, returning to Siberia — to their historical homeland — since in the Middle Ages, the territory had been part of the Uzbek Khanate ruled by the Shaybanid dynasty.
This comment alone was enough to trigger a nationwide campaign against him. Tagizade was accused of “separatism,” “provocation,” “undermining Russia’s sovereignty,” and other serious offenses. A formal appeal was sent to the Prosecutor General of Russia demanding that a criminal case be opened against the deputy. There were also calls to strip him of his mandate in the Khanty-Mansi regional Duma.
Although Tagizade later issued a public apology, he cut off contact with the media and failed to attend a Duma committee session of which he is a member. The meeting took place on June 2. On June 3, it was announced that the Duma would review his status. Fearing that he might be stripped of his mandate and arrested on that day, Tagizade reportedly chose to leave the country. According to the news portal URA.ru, citing sources within the regional political establishment, he purchased a ticket and departed for Azerbaijan on June 3.
That same day, an emergency session of the Khanty-Mansi Duma was held to discuss Tagizade’s remarks about Yugra potentially being a historical homeland of the Uzbeks. Following the meeting, deputies voted to remove Tagizade from his post as deputy chairman of the Social Development Committee, although his mandate was not revoked.
“At present, there are no legal grounds to strip him of his mandate,” a source stated, adding that investigation materials had been forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office.
Under current legislation, a deputy cannot be deprived of their mandate solely for public statements — such action is only possible if criminal charges are filed. Earlier, Russian State Duma deputy Maksim Ivanov submitted an appeal to the Prosecutor General requesting that a criminal case be launched against Tagizade under articles related to separatism and incitement of interethnic hatred. The Prosecutor’s Office has not yet responded.
Khalid Tagizade was elected to the regional Duma as a Communist Party candidate.
Sources say the Communist Party faction has been demanding his resignation, as he had long been expelled from the party. Nevertheless, Tagizade continues to hold his seat in the regional parliament — at least until security agencies complete their review to determine whether his remarks constitute extremist content.
Boris Khokhryakov, Speaker of the regional Duma, stated that deputies currently have no legal right to terminate his mandate prematurely. According to federal law “On the General Principles of the Organization of Public Authority in the Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation” and the regional law “On the Status of a Deputy of the Duma of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra,” a violation of parliamentary ethics is not grounds for losing a mandate.
“However, should legal action be taken against Deputy Tagizade in accordance with Russian law, the Duma will undoubtedly revisit the issue,” the speaker emphasized.
