Putin arrives in Azerbaijan on state visit to discuss ties and Armenia issues with Aliyev

Department of Research, Strategic Studies and International Relations 20-08-2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, on Sunday for a two-day official visit, as reported by Russian news outlets.

Russian television aired footage showing Putin’s plane landing in Baku on Sunday evening.

The visit to this Caucasus nation, which maintains strong ties with both Moscow and Türkiye while serving as a significant energy provider to Western nations, occurs against the backdrop of an unprecedented Ukrainian military incursion into Russian territory.

The Kremlin announced that Putin is scheduled to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to discuss bilateral relations and “international and regional issues.”

According to Azerbaijan’s state news agency Asertac, the two leaders were to share a dinner on Sunday evening at the official residence of the Azerbaijani president.

On Monday, the agenda includes the signing of joint agreements and public statements by both leaders, as reported by the Russian news agency Ria Novosti.

During his visit, Putin also paid tribute by laying a wreath at the tomb of Heydar Aliyev, the former president of Azerbaijan and the father of the current leader, who served from 1993 to 2003.

Earlier, the Kremlin noted that the talks would include discussions on resolving the ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

In September 2023, Azerbaijan regained control of the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh enclave from Armenian separatists who had held it for three decades.

Armenia has accused Russia of providing insufficient support in its conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. Consequently, Armenia has sought to strengthen its relations with Western countries, particularly the United States, much to the displeasure of Moscow, which views both Armenia and Azerbaijan as within its sphere of influence.

Azerbaijan, a major natural gas producer, has become increasingly important to European countries seeking alternatives to Russian energy supplies since the conflict in Ukraine began in February 2022.

In addition, Azerbaijan is set to host the COP29 climate conference in November 2024.

Putin’s last visit to Azerbaijan was in September 2018. His international travels have been restricted since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant in March 2023, accusing him of the “deportation” of Ukrainian children to Russia, a charge the Kremlin denies.

However, the arrest warrant does not affect Putin’s visit to Azerbaijan, as the country is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC