On 26 August, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov conducted his working visit to Moscow. During the visit, the minister met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, and will also hold meetings at the Federation Council and the Cabinet of Ministers of Russia. Bayramov is also scheduled to meet with Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Averchuk and Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Ilyas Umakhanov.

The Russian MFA reported that Bayramov and Lavrov will discuss the status and prospects of bilateral cooperation, key aspects of the regional and international agenda, including settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Another important topic of conversation will be Azerbaijan's potential purchase of the Russian made Covid-19 vaccine. “Being interested in purchasing a vaccine, we can consider the proposals of our Russian colleagues in connection with the cooperation in this sphere as soon as the necessary procedures for the recognition of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine, primarily by the WHO, are over,” Bayramov said a day prior to the meeting.

To note, Bayramov and Lavrov had a phone conversation on 17 July, in which they exchanged views on a wide range of relations between the two countries and emphasized that efforts to develop a strategic partnership would continue. During the phone conversation, Bayramov also informed his Russian counterpart about the military clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Tovuz region and the tense situation in the region.

Lavrov-Mnatsakanyan conversation prior to the meeting and OSCE announcement

Prior to the meeting between Bayramov and Lavrov, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held a phone conversation with Lavrov. The Armenian MFA reported that the two ministers discussed the regional developments after July military actions and the situation created over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process.

Mnatsakanyan stressed the significance of Armenian-Russian cooperation in ensuring peace, stability and security in the region. The two ministers exchanged thoughts regarding Armenian-Russian allied relations.

Parallel to the diplomatic developments, the Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Igor Popov announced that the group would visit the region as soon as the borders open. The OSCE Minsk group is also working to organise a meeting between Bayramov and Mnatsakanyan, as confirmed by Azerbaijan’s minister, but he emphasized that the Armenian leadership was “reducing the efforts of the mediators to zero.”

Shoigu’s visit to Azerbaijan 

A day prior to Bayramov’s visit to Moscow, the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Baku. According to official information, the purpose of Shoigu’s trip was to open the Sea Cup competition on the Caspian Sea as part of the 2020 International Army Games. However, he also met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov. It was highlighted that the sides discussed issues of the bilateral agenda, military-technical cooperation, training of Azerbaijani cadets in Russian military schools and much more. Shoigu emphasized that relations between the two states will continue to develop, despite the forced restrictions introduced this year. “We expect that what has been missed will be made up. If not this year, then next,” he said.

The Russian political analyst Sergei Markov highlighted that Shoigu’s visit had deeper political implications as it took place amid the recent aggravation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in July this year. “Here we should also take into account the fact that Shoigu, unlike other Russian ministers, is most closely associated with Armenia. This is due to the fact that Armenia and Russia are members of the CSTO. And of course, Shoigu is aware of all this and understands well in what direction the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia may develop. For the same reason I think the main topic of Shoigu's discussions in Baku was the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” he said.