Russian lawmaker calls Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev “most reliable partner”

Leonid Slutsky, head of Russia’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), described Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as one of Russia’s “most reliable” partners, alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, in remarks broadcast on a Telegram show hosted by Russian TV personality Vladimir Solovyov.

“Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of Russia and never lets us down,” Slutsky said. “President Ilham Aliyev is one of the most dependable leaders in the post-Soviet space.”

Slutsky emphasized the enduring partnership between Moscow and Baku despite efforts to create friction between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Telegram channel “VChK-OGPU,” which is reportedly close to Russian intelligence, reported that President Vladimir Putin is seeking to ease tensions with Azerbaijan. According to the report, an informal Russian delegation is being assembled to travel to Baku next week to hold unofficial talks.