ArmInfo. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan described the statement of director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, about Azerbaijani side's hindering Russian citizens of Armenian nationality from entering the country as "contrary to the spirit of bilateral strategic relations," Spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva, said this, TASS reports.
Abdullayeva expressed regret that the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation was not the first time to make statements contradicting the spirit of bilateral strategic relations. "On the background of development of Azerbaijani-Russian relations, this statement and attempts to inflate some particular case, taking it out of the general context, are another manifestation of the general trend we have indicated. A representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that "the Azerbaijani side promised that this situation would be corrected." "We strongly refute this. Azerbaijani-Russian relations are based on equality, and the expression "correct the situation" contradicts the essence of equal bilateral relations. According to the spokeswoman, only in 2018, 880,000 Russian citizens visited Azerbaijan, and there were no complaints by them on the issue raised. "The overwhelming majority of the citizens of Russia were pleased with their visit and expressed gratitude for the hospitality. I would like to note that among the visitors there were Russian citizens of Armenian origin. At the same time, not only Russian citizens of Armenian origin, but also citizens of Armenia participated in international events competitions and cultural events held in Azerbaijan, and they had no problems," she said. We are convinced that the next provocative and anti-Azerbaijani statement by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry will not have a negative impact on relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. Azerbaijani-Russian relations are determined not by the foreign affairs structured, but by the presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia, and both sides are very interested in developing these relations and are making efforts in this direction," she concluded.