Kerim Has: Positions of Moscow and Ankara regarding Karabakh are very different

Kerim Has, PhD in Political Science, expert on Eurasian Politics of the International Strategic Research Organization, commented to Alpha News on the Russian-Turkish relations after the recent meeting of the presidents of Russia and Turkiye in Sochi.

“After the elections in Turkiye, the tension between Ankara and Moscow has somewhat increased, and in order to control this tension and prevent it from turning into a larger-scale crisis, such a summit was necessary for both sides,” Has noted.

He noted that although Erdogan repeatedly stated that he was waiting for the visit of the Russian president to Turkiye, it was the Turkish president who visited Sochi in the end. And he reminded that the last four meetings between Putin and Erdogan also took place on the territory of Russia.

“So far, the asymmetry in Turkish-Russian relations remains in favor of Moscow,” the expert noted.

According to the expert, the positions of Moscow and Ankara regarding the situation in the South Caucasus, particularly the Karabakh issue, are very different.

“That’s why it won’t be nice for both sides to make any open statements about the Karabakh issue. I think that the Karabakh issue will be hotly discussed next year,” Has said.

“Turkiye, together with Azerbaijan, is increasing military and political pressure on Armenia and Karabakh, especially after February 24, when Russia was burdened by the conflict in Ukraine. Russia would not like to open a second front in the post-Soviet territory. It would be “very painful” for Russia,” he added.

He also stated that the US, with the help of the European Union, wants to reduce Russia’s influence abroad, primarily in the post-Soviet territory.