Russia airs grievance to Azerbaijan over comments on “sham elections”
- 14 September, 21:00
Kremlin has criticized Azerbaijan’s comments on sham elections in Ukraine’s Russian-held four regions.
On September 9, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry released a statement on “elections” held in certain territories of Ukraine. The ministry affirmed that the elections could not have any legal effect whatsoever as they were held in the part of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territories.
“Azerbaijan and Ukraine recognize and support each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the ministry said in its statement.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described Baku’s comments as “unacceptable” and not corresponding to the “allied nature of relations between our countries”. In a statement on Wednesday, Zakharova said: "We proceed from the fact that Baku should treat the territorial integrity of our country with the same respect that Baku expects from us, when it comes to the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.”
The Russian official’s statement reflect the weakening of its position in the South Caucasus region.
Zakharova also criticized Armenia for making “unfriendly” statements that were damaging the Nagorno-Karabakh peace negotiations. She was responding to Yerevan’s accusations that Russia failed to provide for Armenia’s security since the war with Azerbaijan in 2020. Russia has maintained a 2,000-strong peacekeeping mission in separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region since the war. Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia made a mistake of relying entirely on Russia for its security.
Since launching full-fledged invasion of Ukraine last year, Russia’s position has been weakening in the region.
