AZE.US
Azerbaijan is pursuing a deliberate policy toward the peoples and regions of Russia while preparing for possible political changes inside the country, according to Rizvan Huseynov, director of the Center for the History of the Caucasus.
Speaking on the Alpha Media project, Huseynov said the recent conference in Shusha on preserving the identity of smaller nations should not be viewed as an emotional or improvised move by Baku.
“This is such a sensitive issue that Azerbaijan would not suddenly raise it without serious consideration,” he said. “It is possible that the relevant institutions have information about potential developments and are acting proactively.”
The conference brought together representatives of Circassian, Tatar, Bashkir, Yakut and other communities. Participants discussed the preservation of national, cultural and religious identities among peoples living in Russia or forced to leave the country.
Huseynov stressed that the initiative was not aimed at encouraging separatism.
According to him, one of the key outcomes of the gathering was a memorandum calling for Caucasian and Muslim peoples not to be forced to participate in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The analyst also pointed to Azerbaijan’s growing ties with several Russian regions, particularly Astrakhan, Tatarstan and other parts of the Volga-Caspian area.
As an example, he cited Astrakhan Region’s involvement in the construction of a kindergarten in Azerbaijan’s Fuzuli district.
Huseynov argued that Baku currently maintains stronger relations with political and economic circles in Moscow, Kazan and Astrakhan than with the St. Petersburg-based segment of the Russian establishment.
“In my personal assessment, Azerbaijan is building positive relations with certain groups in Moscow, Kazan and Astrakhan, while relations with the St. Petersburg circles are becoming more difficult,” he said.
He suggested that the influence of Russia’s traditional St. Petersburg political elite may be declining, while the role of central and Caspian regions could grow.
Huseynov described these developments as part of Azerbaijan’s broader effort to strengthen its regional position as Russia’s influence across Eurasia weakens.
AZE.US