Kremlin says Russia and Azerbaijan must remain allies and partners

Russia believes it must remain a close partner and ally of Azerbaijan, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday, amid signs of strain in bilateral ties.

“We remain committed to our alliance,” Peskov said during a press call, according to Russian media. “Logic suggests only one thing: that Russia and Azerbaijan are and should remain close partners.”

Peskov said the two countries share “a common history, present and future,” and any issues between them should be resolved constructively.

He added that Russian diplomats were in constant contact with their Azerbaijani counterparts and were advocating for the rights of detained Russian citizens. Russia's Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin and Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov are also in contact with Azerbaijani Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev, Peskov said.