If we demonstrate the style of “a bad peace is better than a good quarrel,” then there is a need to normalize relations with Azerbaijan, says Konstantin Zatulin, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the Russian State Duma.

But, according to the Russian politician, this does not mean that Moscow should be carried away by the depth of this cooperation.

In an interview with Lenta.ru, the Russian lawmaker noted the difference in the positions of the two countries on a number of matters.

“Azerbaijan follows its own direction. The peculiarities of this direction are the annexation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the refusal to reach a peaceful settlement in 2023. Azerbaijan took advantage of the fact that Armenia at that time was headed by a not-so-national government and implemented its plans with the support of Turkey. In order to do this and not interfere with Russia, it needed to play the role of a strategic partner for some time,” Zatulin noted.

According to the Russian legislator, as soon as Azerbaijan's plans were implemented, the need to coordinate everything with Russia disappeared.

“Especially since further pressure on Armenia, the construction of the ‘Zangezur corridor,’ the engagement of Americans, Israelis, and others in this region clearly do not meet to the interests of the Russian Federation.

Moreover, the strategic alliance between Turkey and Azerbaijan is not only a bilateral alliance, but also a path to the future—to continue the formation of a greater Turan, to penetrate into Turkic and, as they believe, Central Asia and some Turkic regions of Russia. This clearly contradicts Russia’s interests and creates threats for it. And since this is now being brought to the fore, the need for cover-up on the part of Azerbaijan has disappeared,” he added.

Zatulin said that Baku is strengthening its relations with Washington and Tel Aviv as a bridgehead against Tehran. The Russian lawmaker explained that this also does not meet the interests of Russia, which had been counting on the North-South corridor leading to Iran through Azerbaijan.

“I have a very clear impression that that Azerbaijan is ready to participate in some conspiracies against Iran in order to try to undermine the stability of the Islamic Republic of Iran, where a considerable part of the population is Azerbaijani. [Azerbaijani president] Aliyev does not hide this,” the Russian politician said.

“If we have to demonstrate the style of ‘a bad peace is better than a good quarrel,’ I think we should normalize relations with Azerbaijan. But that does not mean that we should deceive ourselves about the depth of these relations,” Konstantin Zatulin said.