Relations between Moscow and Baku are currently going through a difficult phase, despite being built on a solid foundation, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, TASS reports.
“There is indeed a strong foundation, a convergence of interests between the two countries, and mutually beneficial cooperation based on mutual respect,” Peskov said. “But sometimes, relations between countries enter a complicated period. Right now is one of those times.”
He added, “We hope this period will pass,” emphasizing that “cooperation between the two countries is mutually beneficial.”
Tensions between the two countries escalated in late June when representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora were detained in Yekaterinburg on charges of serious crimes. Azerbaijan protested what it claimed was the use of excessive force by Russian police during the arrests.
In response, Baku canceled all cultural events scheduled in cooperation with Russia and detained journalists from the Russian state media outlet Sputnik Azerbaijan. On July 18, Azerbaijani authorities announced they would not participate in the upcoming session of the CIS Economic Council, which is set to take place in Moscow.
