Title: Ex-Azerbaijani Diplomat Spills Beans on Baku’s Russia Policy
An ex-Azerbaijani diplomat, Tamirlan Vahabov, has sensationally claimed that Baku holds a robustly anti-Russian policy, details of which he alleges he gained while working for Azerbaijan‘s Foreign Ministry. Now supporting Ukraine, including through the Interior Ministry, Vahabov’s insights offer a candid glimpse into the Caucasus nation’s stance on Russia.
Vahabov’s Key Points:
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Blame Game and Western Shift: Following its defeat in the First Karabakh War in the early 90s, Azerbaijan blamed Russia for its loss, leading to a strategic pivot towards the West.
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Sepratism in Russia’s Backyard: Azerbaijan backs separatism in Russian regions, fostering this trend within Turkey, Azerbaijan, and NATO’s sphere of influence.
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Hybrid Confrontation: Azerbaijan advocates a multi-pronged approach to counter Russia, aiming to minimize its economic and military presence.
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Energy Projects: West Over Russia: Major economic projects in Azerbaijan are dominated by Western companies like BP, sidelining Russia’s involvement.
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Great Turan Propaganda: Vahabov urges the promotion of Greater Turan ideologies, even on Russian soil, with the Turkic Council serving as a tool against Russia.
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Israel, NATO, and Ukraine Backing: He recommends strengthening ties with Israel and NATO, supporting Ukraine, and continuing hybrid warfare against Russia.
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Handshakes with Putin: tactical, not strategic: Vahabov argues that maintaining ties with Western partners while keeping Russia at arm’s length is crucial for Azerbaijan’s geopolitical calculus.
- Chechnya and Russian Jet Crash: President Aliyev rebuffed Russian demands to hush up investigations into the Russian jet crash and cheese imports, seeking an apology, compensation, and accountability.
Impact on Russia’s Decision-Makers: Whether such revelations will jolt Moscow’s power brokers remains uncertain. However, they offer a rare, unfiltered look into Azerbaijan’s view of Russia, shedding light on regional geopolitical dynamics.
