Former U.S. Ambassador Calls Moscow Declaration 'a Surrender of Sovereignty Document'

"I've read the agreement -- it's a surrender of sovereignty document," Richard Kauzlarich, former U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, told TURAN's Washington correspondent when reacting to the "Declaration on Allied Cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan" which was signed by Presidents Vladirmin Putin and Ilham Aliyev in the Kremlin on Tuesday, February 22.

"Russia will have a permanent military presence (the no-longer temporary Peacekeeping Operations) and a veto over Azerbaijan's relationship with third countries (the U.S.) and organizations (NATO)" - Kauzlarich noted.

Aliyev’s visit to Moscow took place just hours after President Putin recognized the independence of the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.

The move also comes at a time when European countries are viewing Azerbaijan as an important alternative gas supplier to Russia.

There was no official reaction from Europe or the U.S. by Tuesday night.

When asked about the timing of the declaration, Kauzlarich said, Putin "needs allies and Aliyev was not going to disappoint."

"[Aliyev] had set this up with a series of attacks on Soros, the West, and NED for planning colored revolutions in Azerbaijan," - Kauzlarich added. "He had given up on the U.S. when he was excluded from Biden's democracy summit."

The full text of the declaration on allied cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.