Exactly two years and two months after the signing of the Declaration on Russian-Azerbaijani alliance relations (22.02.2022), Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was “invited” to Moscow for a meeting with Vladimir Putin. In this regard, even the spokesperson of Aliyev’s propaganda writes in the media that Russia “helped Azerbaijan to formalize the results of the war”. It is true, that is what the Russian author says, but the important thing is not the signature, but when and where the historical-political reality is made public.
And it follows that Moscow “invites” Aliyev to more than an open conversation. Moreover, it may be a coincidence, but it is a fact that on the same day the House of Representatives of the United States Congress is voting in favor of the bill for military assistance to Ukraine. A serious test awaits Russia. The West intends to allocate frozen Russian assets to Ukraine as well. It will be a decision equal to confiscation of military fine.
Apparently, the Kremlin organized an information leak for certain circles of experts. If we were to “put the press publications under a microscope”, we would have approximately this picture. Vladimir Putin will either specifically raise the issue of Azerbaijan’s membership in the EEU, or the obligation of “strategic neutrality”. The Russian commentator of Haqqin.az hints that the attitude of the Azerbaijani public towards Russia is “unambiguous”.
That’s putting it too mildly. The public of Azerbaijan has an excellent anti-Russian mood, but this can be overcome in the conditions of dictatorship. And what to do with the Constitutional Act of Azerbaijan “On the Restoration of State Independence”, in the preamble of which Russia is described twice as an “occupier” and a gravedigger of independent Azerbaijani statehood? Will Vladimir Putin set the task of revising that Act? Is a new Russian-Azerbaijani agreement being discussed?
It seems that the vote of the House of Representatives of the Congress should dispel the idea that in the case of Trump’s rule in the United States, Washington will take a different position on the issue of Ukraine. Basically, the importance of Aliyev’s trip to Moscow lies in what part of his geopolitical vision the Russian president will “open” to him. Will Aliyev return from Moscow as a regional player? And how acceptable is that “status” for the USA, the European Union, Iran and even Turkey?
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