Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova should first comment on the steps taken to resolve the problems, Azerbaijani MP Azer Badamov told APA.
Causes of tension in Russia-Azerbaijan relations
The MP said that instead of making statements such as “the release of 13 Russian citizens held in Azerbaijan could be an important step towards improving relations”, Zakharova should address the work being done to eliminate the problems that originally strained relations between the two countries: “This includes the procedures related to the downing of the AZAL plane, the Yekaterinburg incidents, the undeclared war against Azerbaijanis, and other issues. The Russian side is effectively setting conditions, but the root of the problem must be examined. Pressure and deportations against Azerbaijanis in Russia, as well as the seizure of their businesses, continue. The Russian Foreign Ministry, the Federal Security Service, and the Investigative Committee play the main role in these matters.”
Russia’s biased stance towards Azerbaijan
According to Badamov, Azerbaijan has always supported maintaining and developing bilateral relations with Russia and all its neighbors: “However, bilateral relations must be based on the sovereignty of states and continue on the basis of mutual respect and benefit. Azerbaijan does not accept a policy of pressure and superiority. Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia had developed at a high level in recent years. On February 22, 2022, the Declaration on Allied Interaction between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation was even signed. But Russia’s biased and unfair attitude towards Azerbaijan has created cracks in the relationship.”
The way forward
The MP stressed that restoring relations to normal cannot be achieved through political pressure, bias, and displays of hostility: “The way out lies in diplomacy, high-level official negotiations, and reaching agreements to resolve problems.”
