The Dushanbe meeting between the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan on October 9, according to analysts, indicates that the tension observed between Moscow and Baku will gradually begin to weaken and the relations between these countries will enter a normalization phase.
Modern.az reports that Russian political scientist Arkady Dubnov believes that both Aliyev and Putin have found a mutually acceptable formula regarding the main problematic issue – the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane on December 25 last year – and this will allow the parties to overcome the crisis.
According to Dubnov, Putin's raising the topic of the plane crash at the Dushanbe meeting and his explanations give reason to believe that the Russian side can be considered to have taken responsibility for what happened, and the demands of the Azerbaijani side are being met.
In Dubnov's opinion, during the discussion with Aliyev, Putin deliberately chose such vocabulary and terminology that would allow him to emerge from the crisis that had arisen in bilateral relations.
Let us recall that at the Dushanbe meeting of the presidents, Putin said:
“During our first telephone conversation, I apologized for the tragedy having occurred specifically in Russian airspace, and I also extended my sincerest condolences to the families of those who perished. I would like to reiterate all of this, to say it again, and to note that we are, of course, providing all possible assistance to the investigation, as we agreed...
... Everything will be done by the Russian side regarding compensation, and a legal assessment will be given to the actions of all officials.”
