The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan, Aykhan Hajizada, has stated that Baku expects an official explanation from Moscow regarding recent comments made by Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zakharova.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the remarks voiced by Maria Zakharova during her latest briefing were deemed entirely unacceptable by the Azerbaijani side.
"It is unacceptable that Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, attempted to mention the name of Azerbaijan's National Leader Heydar Aliyev in a manner completely unrelated to the topic while answering a question regarding Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's views on clergy during a recent press briefing," the MFA official emphasized.
Hajizada further stated that mentioning the name of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in such a context is a sign of disrespect toward his legacy and the people of Azerbaijan. "Such statements do not meet the standards expected of an official representative. Diplomacy requires discipline, precision, and responsibility, rather than inappropriate statements that increase tension and damage credibility. We expect an explanation from the Russian side regarding this statement," he added.
Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of Azerbaijan, is credited with establishing the modern Azerbaijani state and defining its strategic foreign policy. Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are currently governed by the Declaration on Allied Interaction signed in February 2022, which emphasizes mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs. This diplomatic friction comes at a time when both nations are engaged in high-level regional cooperation, making the demand for clarification a significant move by Baku to protect its national symbols and historical heritage.
