Baku has yet to receive an official response from Moscow regarding the AZAL flight disaster, which occurred within Russian airspace corridors. Responsibility for the tragedy that claimed the lives of Azerbaijani citizens has not been established, and those responsible — well known to Moscow — remain at large.
A recent cyberattack on Azerbaijani information systems, originating from Russian territory and reportedly linked to GRU-affiliated structures, has only worsened the situation. The incident involving the humiliating deportation of Milli Majlis MP Azer Badamov from a Moscow airport further confirmed that the Russian side has taken actions that Baku views as arrogant and disrespectful.
Under these circumstances, Azerbaijan is making it clear: the era of condescending tolerance toward the “big brother” is over. Today, Baku is an independent player with a strong stance and a sovereign foreign policy. If Moscow is truly interested in preserving even a formal partnership, it must abandon its imperial habits and learn to speak to Azerbaijan in the language of mutual respect.
