On May 15, Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, stated that Russia seeks to fully realize the potential of its relations with Azerbaijan based on the 2022 Declaration on Allied Cooperation.
Zakharova emphasized that Moscow remains committed to consistently developing this foundational agreement and resolving any emerging issues on a mutually respectful and beneficial basis. She noted that both countries maintain a series of high-level contacts through government and foreign ministry channels. Zakharova also recalled the participation of Azerbaijani Armed Forces units in the May 9 Victory Parade on Red Square, highlighting their shared remembrance of ethnic Azerbaijani veterans who fought in the Red Army during World War II. She underscored the unity between the peoples of Russia and Azerbaijan, rooted in their reverence for historical memory and the valor of their ancestors.
Addressing inquiries about the scheduling of bilateral meetings, Zakharova remarked that while such matters depend on the presidential administration, it is important not to ignore evident realities, as doing so would be “unfair and, incidentally, very dangerous.”
Notably, relations between Azerbaijan and Russia have significantly deteriorated in recent months, primarily due to the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger plane by Russian air defenses in December 2024, which resulted in 38 fatalities. In retaliation, Azerbaijan took several diplomatic actions, including summoning the Russian ambassador and expelling Russian lawmakers who had made derogatory remarks about Azerbaijan. Additionally, Azerbaijan closed the Russian House cultural center in Baku, accusing it of engaging in espionage activities. Russian state media responded with criticism, and some lawmakers suggested retaliatory measures, such as expelling Azerbaijanis from Russia and imposing economic sanctions. Moreover, Russian authorities barred Azerbaijani lawmaker Azer Badamov from entering Russia, citing “Russophobic comments.” This move was met with protests from Azerbaijan, which viewed it as an unjustified restriction on its citizens. Additionally, on the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev skipped the Red Square Victory Day parade in Moscow and instead visited territories retaken from Armenia during the Second Karabakh War. Despite these tensions, trade discussions between Russia and Georgia, as reported in a previous Caucasus Watch article on May 14, indicate pragmatic economic engagement in the region, with Russia also expressing interest in expanding trade turnover with Georgia.