Azerbaijan, Russia Enter “Difficult Period” in Relations

(MENAFN) The Kremlin announced on Monday that Azerbaijan and Russia are currently experiencing a “difficult period” in their bilateral relations.

“At times, challenging phases emerge in the relationship between two nations. We are presently going through one such phase,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated during a press conference held in Moscow.

Peskov expressed optimism that “this period will pass,” emphasizing that “cooperation between the two countries brings mutual benefit.”

The strain between the two nations intensified last month after Azerbaijan decided to cancel scheduled cultural activities in Russia.

This move followed the deaths of Azerbaijani citizens during a police operation in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Azerbaijan described the incident as a response to “targeted and extrajudicial killings and acts of violence against Azerbaijanis based on their ethnicity.”

Regarding ongoing investigations, Peskov confirmed that Moscow continues to probe the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane crash that occurred in Kazakhstan last December, which tragically claimed the lives of 38 passengers.

He added that if Baku chooses to pursue legal action against Moscow in international courts over this matter, it is within their rights, and Russia “will wait for official verdicts.”

Lastly, the spokesperson mentioned that a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, during events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II in Beijing this September “cannot be ruled out.”

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