Azerbaijani opposition politician Natig Jafarli, chairman of the Republican Alternative Party (REAL), said Russia’s recent shift toward reconciliation with Azerbaijan was “expected and inevitable,” but added that the Kremlin’s handling of the AZAL plane crash remains “morally and politically flawed.”
Speaking to the Dojd YouTube channel, Jafarli said Putin’s meeting with President Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe showed a clear change of tone, but came “ten months too late.”
“Let’s be honest – Putin knew what happened not in ten months, but in ten minutes,” Jafarli said.
“It took nearly a year for the Kremlin to admit what Baku and the Azerbaijani people had demanded from day one – acknowledgment of guilt, compensation, and accountability for those responsible.”Stay Ahead with Azerbaijan.usGet exclusive translations, top stories, and analysis — straight to your inbox.
The REAL Party leader noted that the economic partnership between the two countries continued to grow even amid the diplomatic freeze – bilateral trade rising by almost 16% in the first eight months of 2025.
“The Plane Was Just a Trigger – The Problems Go Deeper”
Jafarli argued that the rift between Baku and Moscow was not caused by the AZAL tragedy alone, but by deeper geopolitical disagreements.
“Russia didn’t like that Azerbaijan deepened military and political ties with Turkey, especially after the Shusha Declaration. The Kremlin never expected its troops to withdraw from Karabakh so soon,” he said.
He added that Baku’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine and support for its sovereignty further irritated Moscow.
Putin in the Position of an Apologizer
Commenting on the body language during the Dushanbe meeting, Jafarli observed that Aliyev appeared calm and confident, while Putin looked apologetic – a reversal of their usual dynamic.
“Russia finally realized it cannot afford another conflict – not with Azerbaijan, and not with Turkey standing right behind it,” he said.
However, Jafarli remains skeptical about whether any senior Russian officials will face punishment for the December 2024 crash.
“Maybe a captain or lieutenant will be quietly reassigned, but no generals will be held responsible,” he concluded.
