Azerbaijan understands that Armenia will not rebuff, says political scientist

Program Director of the Valdai Club Timofei Bordachev commented to Alpha News on the shelling of Armenian positions by the Azerbaijani armed forces, which killed four Armenian soldiers.

“The situation in the South Caucasus resembles more and more the situation in the Middle East, when everything becomes as flexible, confusing, and non-linear as possible. There are different statements; angry statements are not necessarily connected with anything. So, I would say that the South Caucasus— Armenia and Azerbaijan—have already completely become part of the Middle East, like Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine.

It seems to me that such actions of the Azerbaijani leadership are connected with the fact that Azerbaijan understands that, firstly, Armenia will not rebuff. Secondly, it understands that the current leadership of Armenia is more interested in how it looks in the relations between Armenia and Russia, between Armenia and the West rather than in the situation on the ground itself, the fate of the Armenian military personnel, or the situation on the border with Russia,” the expert said.

According to the expert, further escalation will be possible if Armenia leaves Russia for the West.

“Azerbaijan is interested in the Armenian leadership making the most of such informational reasons to worsen relations between Armenia and Russia. Escalation will be possible if Armenia leaves Russia for the West,” Bordachev concluded.