Baku/Moscow — August 29, 2025
Russian political analyst Sergey Markov, head of the Institute for Political Studies, has denied claims circulating on social media that he had moved to Azerbaijan.
The rumors spread after a “video message” appeared online in which Markov allegedly stated that he had relocated to Baku, calling Azerbaijan more favorable for living than Russia. However, the clip is widely believed to have been generated by artificial intelligence.
In comments to Bizim.Media, Markov dismissed the claims, stressing that he is currently in Moscow. Asked whether he had any future plans to live in Baku, he replied bluntly:
“I will live in Moscow.”
Context
On August 22, Russia’s Ministry of Justice added Markov to its official register of “foreign agents.” The analyst said he had been unaware of his inclusion in the list and suggested that it might have been an error.
