AZE.US
Azerbaijani political commentator Ilgar Mammadov said the recent meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed potential new risks for Azerbaijan, particularly in the run-up to Armenia’s parliamentary election on June 7.
Speaking on YouTube, Mammadov said the exchange between Pashinyan and Putin drew close attention in Azerbaijan because the upcoming vote could shape not only Armenia’s internal political course, but also the broader prospects for peace in the South Caucasus. He said it is still too early to say whether the public clash helped Pashinyan politically or weakened his standing before the election.
Mammadov argued that one of the most important moments in the discussion was Pashinyan’s reference to the events of 2022 and the fact that Putin did not respond to that point. In his view, that silence could create a political opening for more hardline forces in Armenia if they return to power. He suggested that such rhetoric could later be used as a starting point for renewed escalation.
At the same time, Mammadov said the Karabakh issue is closed and stressed that Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty on its own. He also pointed to Putin’s remarks about people holding Russian passports taking part in Armenia’s domestic political life, saying that detail reflects the unusual nature of Russian-Armenian relations and could carry longer-term implications if revanchist forces gain strength in Yerevan.
Mammadov also linked the discussion to the reappearance of Samvel Shahramanyan in the public space after the Kremlin meeting. He said Azerbaijan should respond clearly to such signals, especially when figures associated with the former separatist administration try to re-enter the regional political conversation. He added that Baku should pay closer attention to issues tied to Zangezur and the return of Azerbaijanis to Western Zangezur.