Georgian publicist on Russian-Azerbaijani relations

Georgia knows that Azerbaijan has claims against Russia, which patronizes the occupation actions of Armenia in Karabakh. Georgians are surprised to see normal relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. In a conversation with Turan, Georgian publicist Tengiz Ablothiya said this: "I am now inside Azerbaijani politics - I am writing on the Azerbaijani website and see how cautiously your authorities treat any references to Russia."

- Why should Azerbaijan set Russia against itself, even knowing that it protects the Armenians? It is known that President Putin, who accuses Ukraine of fascism, is silent about the sculpture to the Armenian-German fascist Nzhdeh in Yerevan. Russia is so tolerant of Armenian whims. It is believed that for Russia the factor of finding the 102nd base of the Russian military base in Armenia is most important. At the same time, Russia did not seize the territory of Azerbaijan. If we inflame the Kremlin, Russia can respond to us by inciting separatism in northern Azerbaijan.

Tengiz Ablothia replied:

- It does not matter that Russia did not seize the Azerbaijani land. Russia is the guarantor of the invariance of the situation, and therefore Azerbaijan is friends with it, to put it mildly, pointless. I will say this about the possibility of pro-Russian separatism in Azerbaijan: “fear the wolves - do not go into the forest”. Azerbaijan is rich and strong enough to prevent any separatism. This is not 1993. Russia will not seize the lands of Azerbaijan. Putin does not enter the territory where the disloyal population lives.  However, the occupation of Georgia in 2008 was not because the Georgians aroused the northern bear, but because of the West’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence. Everything else is lyrics. In 2008, Putin said Russia would retaliate unilaterally for the independence of Kosovo. “Russia is not going to make an ape or act in a mirror,” Vladimir Putin said at a press conference in the Kremlin. “But we have homework and we know what we will do,” T.Ablotia reminded Putin of the quote and explained: “Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and so were in Russia. It was a mirror response to Kosovo - there the Serbs oppressed the Albanians and the West recognized Kosovo, and here the Georgians oppressed the Ossetians, and we recognized them. That is the mirror answer. Russia is an enemy of Azerbaijan. States should not focus on tomatoes (T.Ablotiya refers to the large export of Azerbaijani tomatoes to Russia - Ed.) The lack of principles has not yet saved any state.

- Russia so far does not bother us to shoot at the Armenians. In addition, it can interfere greatly, and then we will have no way to prevent the anti-Azerbaijani actions of the Kremlin. By the way, the example of the Georgian-Russian war was a lesson for Baku. In 2008, Georgia was left alone; the United States and Europe did not help President Saakashvili defend himself against the Russian army.

Is such an option possible for the development of the current tension between Russia and Turkey: Putin is again quarreling with Erdogan, the Russian president is afraid to attack Turkey with military force and robbing Karabakh from Azerbaijan. Such a mirror answer ...?

- And this does not depend on the behavior of Azerbaijan. If the Kremlin considers such an option necessary, they will apply it. They will cut off your land in parallel with tomatoes.

“Why do we need an enemy with a nuclear bomb?” Russians love to fight, no matter with whom. Georgia is doomed to make peace with Russia, which will remain South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It is geographically doomed, and this forced friendship concerns Azerbaijan. All enemies reconcile, only a matter of time. Turks with Greeks at the level of peoples reconciled. They create joint Greek-Turkish families and make mutually group tourist trips. Russia and Germany reconciled after less than half a century after 1945. Georgia has passed 26 years since 2008. After 2008, Russians and Georgians do not shoot at each other. Turks and Armenians trade actively, through the territory of Georgia. Only Azerbaijan interferes with the brotherhood of Turkey and Armenia. Armenians and Azerbaijanis will also inevitably make peace after the signing of a peace agreement. In the meantime, we are fighting.

- Okay, in general, we have different positions. I believe that the less dependence on Russia, the smaller the share of Russian tourists, the smaller the share of Russia in exports - the better. Baku has a different position. This is the business of your country, I can only respect it.

- Geography obliged our countries to peace. It is not a matter of likes and dislikes. Russia has a hundred mechanisms against Azerbaijan; we have not even one against Russia. Nowhere to go. Thank you for the interesting conversation.