Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement in Baku to cooperate in the field of intelligence and protect the territorial integrity of both countries. This was confirmed by the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, in a briefing with journalists in Baku. But in the case of RA, there is no such document. In Yerevan, Naryshkin said that Russia is ready to support Armenia in creating a separate intelligence service.
Aravot’s interlocutor on the topic is political analyst Hakob Badalyan.
– Mr. Badalyan, according to your observation, what should be concluded between Russia and Baku under the name of “territorial integrity protection”?
– First, I think that document is a certain continuation of the February 22 alliance declaration, which was signed in Moscow between Putin and Aliyev. And now in the field of intelligence, we see a real continuation of this. In general, this is part of Russia’s policy to maintain its influence in the Caucasus and, if possible, to expand it. From this point of view, it is natural that there should be so-called “attention and initiative” towards Azerbaijan as well. It is no secret that the Russian Federation considers Azerbaijan as a key means or base of its influence in the Caucasus. In this regard, there is nothing new in Russian-Azerbaijani relations, and what was signed is the policy of expanding and deepening the existing one.
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– Naryshkin said in Yerevan: “My visit has nothing to do with the arrival of my American colleague here. But I do not rule out that his visit has something to do with my agenda.” What can we conclude from this review?
– Naryshkin’s visit received special attention against the backdrop of the visit of William Burns, head of the US Central Intelligence Agency, to the Caucasus. Immediately after this came Naryshkin’s visit. I have no doubt that the Russian side was aware that the visit of the chief spy of the USA to the region was being prepared. Naryshkin’s “reciprocal visit” was planned in parallel and with such timing that it would immediately follow the visit of the US official to emphasize that Russia is not going to give up its position in the region. Naryshkin’s statements in Yerevan and Baku, the documentary developments with the latter are aimed at this very goal.
– In your opinion, to what extent are the concerns that, with the mentioned document, Russia will transfer to Baku, for example, information of a military nature and military capabilities related to Armenia or Artsakh?
– If Russia has to transfer such information to Baku, the existence or non-existence of that document will absolutely not hinder it. It is not the case that without this document, there was no cooperation between the intelligence services of the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan, and there is no risk of exchanging information about Armenia. Let me repeat that the document does not increase or decrease these risks.
Political analyst Hakob Badalyan
They exist, and the Russian Federation has always had and has the opportunity to provide this information to Azerbaijan at the moment it needs it. There is always a presumption of this risk in RA. We always had to base our steps on this assumption. Russia needs that document more in the logic of connecting Azerbaijan in any way. It is more aimed at generating mutual obligations on the part of the Azerbaijani side. If Russia needs to transfer any information to Azerbaijan, I repeat that it will do so without a document.
If Russia finds it necessary to negotiate with Azerbaijan on the basis of this information, the risk is always there. This, in general, serves to strengthen the position of the Russian Federation in the Caucasus. This is a complex political process, geopolitical struggle and regional reality, in which the players are not only Russia and the USA, but also Iran and Turkey. Regarding Azerbaijan, the factor of Turkey and Iran is more significant for the Russians. Therefore, the mentioned is only one part of the game for the Russians in that complex process, which certainly has risks for us. The deeper the Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation deepens, the more the risk of its transactional consequences deepens for us.
Luiza Sukiasyan
