Golos Rossii
The general director of the political scientific center North-South, editor-in-chief of information analytical agency Vestnik Kavkaza, Alexei Vlasov, comments on new internal and external vectors of Azerbaijani policy and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Interview by Pyotr Zhuravlyov.
Zhuravlyov: Let’s start with the first Azerbaijan president Ayaz Mutalibov’s return to fatherland after 20 years of emigration. He asked not to politicize his return and doesn’t consider it from the political point of view. I think it is impossible. Or maybe I imagine something that doesn’t exist, do I?
Vlasov: According to my information, not only Mutalibov returned to Azerbaijan, but also rather old people who were top members of Central Committee of Azerbaijani Communist Party in late 1980s. These people have worked actively in structures of Azerbaijani diaspora in Moscow in recent years. The adaptation period is over and official Baku sets no obstacles for their return. It is natural and has no political character. I think in this case the Caucasian mentality should be considered. These old people should have an opportunity to come back home, to graves of their fathers and mothers. Moreover, Mutalibov was permitted to be present at funerals of his relative in Baku even before this official decision. As far as I understand that visit was organized due to personal permission of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. It shows that power has no intention to persecute the first president and his former team. They consider him as a person who has a right to return home at any moment.
Zhuravlyov: Please remind us how Mutalibov left Azerbaijan.
Vlasov: We should recall the period from 1990 to 1992 when very difficult processes took place in Azerbaijan. On the one hand, in was beginning of an active stage of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. On the other hand, the country was at the edge of a civil war between representatives of People’s Front. Mutalibov was replaced by nationalist Abulfaz Elchibey. Mutalibov’s presidency lasted several days actually, because People’s Front captured power in regions. Even though Mutalibov counted on support of Baku, he wasn’t a real leader who is able to propose an acute agenda to Azerbaijani people. The third president Heydar Aliyev managed to do it. Mutalibov left to Moscow. Here he wasn’t involved in active political life. However, in the 1990s his critical interviews had been published.
Zhuravlyov: As the leader of the opposition Social-Democratic Party?
Vlasov: Yes, in this role. Mutalibov had no serious influence on political processes in Azerbaijan in the 2000s, especially after death of Heydar Aliyev and coming in office Ilham Aliyev. He turned into a historic figure.
Zhuravlyov: It is true there is no anything significant in it, but return of a person 20 years after…
Vlasov: I would like to say that we in Russia sometimes forget that the significant thing is that he returns. He returned and I wish him peaceful living, feeling that he is home. I think if it happens, we should consider it as a significant event. And thank God…
