Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged difficulties in Moscow’s relations with Baku, saying “problems exist” but stressing that both sides remain interested in developing ties. 

Relations between Baku and Moscow have cooled in recent months, with a series of arrests of Azerbaijanis in Russia’s Yekaterinburg following the downing of an AZAL Airlines plane, which an investigation indicated was caused by accidental Russian ground fire. 

Speaking to journalists at the end of his visit to China, Putin said: “There are always questions arising from the current situation and political conjuncture in interstate relations. There are problems, but today I greeted President [Ilham] Aliyev, and we exchanged a couple of words. Substantial relations and mutual interest in developing them will resolve everything,” according to Interfax.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the two leaders shook hands during events in Tianjin and Beijing, but did not hold what he described as “substantive” talks. He explained that such dialogue implies discussions with specific content and practical outcomes.

Both Aliyev and Putin attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin on August 31-September 1 and the 80th anniversary parade of the end of World War II in Beijing on September 3. Expectations of a bilateral meeting were voiced beforehand, and Peskov had not ruled out such an encounter.

On June 27, Russian law enforcement agencies carried out an operation against ethnic Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg, in which two people were killed and nearly ten were detained. Authorities linked the raids to an old criminal investigation, but subsequent arrests of Azerbaijani diaspora representatives in other Russian cities fuelled discontent.

In Azerbaijan, several Russian nationals have been arrested on drug and other charges, adding to the strains. Both countries’ foreign ministries have publicly expressed dissatisfaction and concern over the developments.

Aliyev notably skipped the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow earlier this year.