AZE.US
Russia and Azerbaijan are currently seeking a new model for their bilateral relations after a period of political tensions, Russian political analyst Sergey Markedonov said.
In an interview with the YouTube channel Echo Baku, Markedonov said both countries remain interested in maintaining pragmatic cooperation despite disagreements.
“Both sides are trying to find an optimal model of interaction,” said Markedonov, a senior researcher at MGIMO University. “It is clear that the previous model of relations is no longer working.”
He pointed to recent diplomatic contacts between the two countries, including a phone conversation between Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov, as well as the visit to Baku by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk.
According to Markedonov, these contacts signal that both governments are interested in stabilizing relations.
“If there were no interest in cooperation, such meetings could simply have been postponed,” he said.
He also commented on legal cases involving members of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia, arguing that they should not necessarily be interpreted as political pressure on Baku.
“I would not automatically view such cases as a direct challenge to Azerbaijan,” Markedonov said. “Often they gain political significance because of the broader context.”
The analyst added that Azerbaijan’s foreign policy has long been based on balancing relations with different global actors – an approach that remains relevant today.
“Azerbaijan’s traditional strength in foreign policy has been caution and balancing between major powers,” he said.