Russia and Azerbaijan are trying to maintain dialogue but closeness they once shared will not return – Alexander Tsinker

Alexander Tsinker, head of the ICES International Center, spoke to Alpha News about relations between Russia and Azerbaijan following the recent meeting in Dushanbe between Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev.

“The fact that so much attention is being paid to Putin’s meeting with Aliyev already suggests that relations between these countries have truly deteriorated, and both sides are trying to resolve their differences and halt the growing distance between them. Putin agreed that, yes, there are problems in the relationship. What happens next remains uncertain. Clearly, Russia doesn’t want to lose influence in the South Caucasus: there are problems with Georgia, there are problems with Armenia, and Azerbaijan remains. At the very least, they want to somehow stop Azerbaijan’s drift away from Russia. Azerbaijan is playing its own game. How independent it is, time will tell,” the expert noted.

According to Tsinker, relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have changed, and time will tell how they will evolve in this new phase.

“Today, within the framework of the Turkic Union or in his recent functions as a mediator in some negotiations, he feels quite at ease, and only the future will tell how close these relations will be. At least, they are unlikely to be what they were before. Relationships are always changing. The level of autonomy that Azerbaijan previously enjoyed in its dealings with Russia is unlikely to continue. I think Russia would seek more influence, which Azerbaijan will probably not agree to. Therefore, events can unfold in different ways,” Tsinker said.