Baku, Aug. 18, 2025 — Whether officially declared or not, Russia has effectively waged war on Azerbaijan. Moscow’s hostile actions against Baku are already too numerous to count.
On the night of August 18, Russian forces struck yet another Azerbaijani energy facility in Odesa, destroying more than ten storage tanks. It was the second attack on the site in just over a week. There is little reason to believe Moscow will stop — not as long as it refuses dialogue and pursues a strategy of coercion.
A Pattern of Hostility
Azerbaijan has long tolerated Moscow’s hostility in silence. But patience ended when attacks escalated into outright terror. Instead of seeking answers, Russia responded with its usual tactics — sabotage and intimidation. For decades, Moscow has failed to build balanced relations with its neighbors, despite signing alliance treaties. These commitments were never more than paper; Russia acted only in its own shifting interests.
Many call this behavior “imperial syndrome.” But after 30 years of independence, it should be clear: the post-Soviet states are not colonies of a vanished empire. They are sovereign nations. Russia, however, still cannot accept this reality — nor has it learned to negotiate on equal terms.
From Imperialism to Fascism
Russian diplomacy has collapsed into crude propaganda, a throwback to the Soviet era, only now even more degraded. The Kremlin believes that only coercion can force neighbors into “good relations.”
Worse still, Moscow has begun embracing ideas rooted in racial superiority and inciting ethnic hatred. This is precisely how fascism emerged in Nazi Germany.
The parallels are striking:
1933–1935 in Germany: gradual restrictions against Jews, “random” attacks, boycotts of shops, bans on professions, and stripping of civil rights.
Today in Russia: systematic demonization of non-Russians, targeted propaganda, and discriminatory laws designed to marginalize entire communities.
A Chilling Example
From September 1, 2025, Russia’s Yamal-Nenets region will introduce new labor restrictions targeting citizens of Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Migrants from these countries will be banned from working in trade and transport services, even if legally employed with work permits.
This is how fascism begins: propaganda breeds hatred, the state codifies discrimination, and violence follows. Russia’s trajectory today echoes Germany’s path in the 1930s — a dangerous reminder of where unchecked nationalism can lead.
