Armenian expert: Could modern Azerbaijan even exist without Russian  and Soviet modernization?

ArmInfo.Rhetoric about "colonialism" requires consistency, otherwise it becomes a tool for political expediency and double standards. This opinion was expressed  on his Telegram page by Vahe Davtyan, a specialist in cross-border  transport and energy projects, political scientist, and PhD, in  response to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's attacks on the  "colonial legacy" of the USSR.

The Armenian expert noted that Aliyev, at a media forum in occupied  Shushi, reiterated the "colonial legacy" of the 19th and 20th  centuries, accusing the USSR of exploiting the republic's resources,  particularly its oil wealth.

"However, the question arises: could modern Azerbaijan even exist  without Russian and Soviet modernization? It was during this period  that the foundations of the country's industrial economy were laid,  the oil industry was created, and the infrastructure, education  system, and engineering school were established. Today, it's  convenient to talk about 'exporting billions of tons of oil,'  forgetting that it was the Soviet period that transformed Azerbaijan  into an industrial republic with a developed energy complex," the  expert stated.

Davtyan noted that, despite all this, Aliyev himself rightly draws  attention to the environmental consequences of large-scale resource  exploitation. However, he added, this raises another question: why is  the discussion of resource "colonialism" limited to the Soviet  period?

In this vein, the expert recalled that the so-called "Contract of the  Century" was signed in 1994, opening Azerbaijan's oil sector to  international corporations. He added that the consortium included 11  major companies, and the country's energy policy became closely  linked to the interests of external players.

"It was this stage that marked the formation of a new model of  dependence. British BP (British Petroleum) assumed a key role in  Azerbaijan's oil sector. At the same time, despite the massive  revenues from oil exports, the Caspian's environmental problems only  worsened. Moreover, Aliyev himself has repeatedly stated that the  Caspian Sea level is approaching its lowest point in 200 years,"  Davtyan noted.

He drew attention to the fact that, according to data provided by the  Azerbaijani side, the Caspian Sea level has dropped by approximately  1 meter over the past five years, 1.5 meters over 10 years, and  approximately 2.5 meters over 30 years. The current rate of decline  is estimated at 20-30 cm per year.

"This raises an awkward question: if the Soviet model of resource  exploitation is declared 'colonialist' due to its environmental  consequences, how should we evaluate the post-Soviet model, in which  transnational corporations have gained control over a strategic  sector? Neocolonialism differs from colonialism in that it comes not  through administrative management, but through control of technology,  investment, and resource flows.

The rhetoric about 'colonialist' requires consistency. Otherwise, it  becomes a tool for political expediency and double standards,"  Davtyan concluded.