Pakistan, July 2 -- MOSCOW/BAKU - Russia on Wednesday urged Azerbaijan to repair strained diplomatic ties, warning that the current crisis could damage long-standing cooperation between the two nations if left unresolved.

Tensions escalated after two ethnic Azerbaijanis died during police raids in Russia last week. In response, Baku arrested two Russian journalists and around 15 other Russian nationals on charges of drug trafficking and cybercrime, worsening the standoff.

Azerbaijan claims autopsy results show the two men were beaten to death, while Moscow insists one of them died from heart problems. Baku has launched its own investigation to determine the truth behind the deaths.

Adding to the tensions, relations have remained rocky ...