Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov’s recent comments about relations between the two countries can be considered an attempt at manipulation against Azerbaijan. According to political analyst Asif Nərimanlı, Russia is trying to obscure its own actions by suggesting that Azerbaijanis hold negative views toward Russians—a position aimed at influencing public opinion.

Axar.az reports that Nərimanlı emphasized that following the killing of Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg, there has been a growing wave of attacks against ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russia. He argued that the real target of these attacks was to pressure Azerbaijan and force Baku to step back from its independent foreign policy—something that ultimately failed.

“Now, Peskov is engaging in manipulation and attempting to create an illusion of ‘reciprocity’,” Nərimanlı said. “The claim that there is hostility toward Russians in Azerbaijan is part of Russia’s broader imperial strategy. We know that Russia has a pattern of using ethnic Russians as a political tool, especially in countries where they reside, to exert pressure.”

He further suggested that Peskov’s statements are intended as a message to Azerbaijan, hinting that Russia might try to use Russian-origin Azerbaijani citizens as leverage. “But this is a weak card to play against Azerbaijan,” Nərimanlı noted, adding that the Azerbaijani people are inherently multicultural, respectful of all ethnic and religious communities—something that is recognized worldwide.

It should be recalled that Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian president, stated that Russia respects law-abiding Azerbaijanis in its territory and considers it very important that Russians are also respected in Azerbaijan.