While Sargsyan and Aliyev held talks behind the closed doors in “Green Hall” at President Hotel in Moscow, Head of Foreign Relations Department of Azerbaijani President Novruz Mammadov’s absence in Azerbaijani delegation was thoroughly discussed behind the scenes.

Anonymous Russian foreign affairs official informed that Mammadov attended all previous meetings of the two Presidents.

Another expert termed his absence as “an absolute demarche evidencing the split of Aliyev team.” He pointed out that Mammadov has been a long-standing associate of Vafa Guluzade – Aliyevs’ advisor, and joined the hard-line policy of his tutor. Guluzade said Madrid Principles are “Azerbaijan’s crudest error that might lead to dissension in the country.”

According to the expert, Mammadov’s demarche may provoke serious controversies in Azerbaijani political elite and indicate the first real crack in the seemingly monolithic power.