The absence of the Azerbaijani delegation from the meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Economic Council is not related to recent events involving Russia.

Axar.az reports that this was stated by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, during a conversation with journalists at the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum.

Hajiyev noted that the event was held with the participation of CIS countries:

“The Azerbaijani side does not associate this with the Aktau incident or other matters. There may be various reasons for the Azerbaijani delegation not participating in the CIS Economic Council meeting held in Moscow on July 18. Changes in the personal schedules of the individuals who were supposed to attend, as well as other factors, cannot be ruled out,” he said.