Ankara ready for tough measures to preserve strategic alliance with Baku: Pyotr Kolchin

Pyotr Kolchin, a political scientist, commented to Alpha News on the dismissal of Erdogan’s adviser over remarks about the hijab ban in Azerbaijan.

“Overall, such a harsh reaction from Ankara indicates that Erdogan intends to step up at least his informational and diplomatic support for Aliyev amid the protests. In Azerbaijan, this topic is quite controversial, because Erdogan, as is well known, relies on religious issues and plays them up to mobilize his electorate to a certain extent. But preserving allied relations with Azerbaijan is, of course, a priority for him. He will suppress, at his level, any news hooks that could work in favor of Aliyev’s rivals.

The dismissal is a certain signal of toughness and resolve, an indication that Turkish speakers had better keep quiet about the protests taking place in Azerbaijan. It is a matter of setting priorities and a sign that, on the international stage, Erdogan takes a very pragmatic approach to religious issues. Azerbaijan is strategically important to him as a window to Asia and as part of the trade infrastructure that will connect Turkey, via Armenia, with the Central Asian region, with the prospect of reaching as far as China. To preserve this asset, Ankara is ready to take tough measures,” Kolchin said.