Lavrov and Bayramov discuss South Caucasus and bilateral relations

Talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov have begun in Moscow. At the start of the meeting, Lavrov said the situation in the South Caucasus would be among the topics discussed, Interfax reported.

“Today, we will discuss the current state and prospects of our cooperation. In the economic sphere, the 24th meeting of the intergovernmental commission was held quite recently, in April. There are also positive trends and prospects in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. And, of course, we will discuss the situation in the South Caucasus,” Lavrov said at the beginning of the meeting. 

Lavrov also noted growing interest in the 3+3 regional consultative platform. He added that, following agreements reached at the highest level and the work of the governments and foreign ministries, all issues related to the crash of an AZAL passenger aircraft had been settled.

Lavrov said he was also pleased to have the opportunity to continue dialogue at the level of foreign ministers. 

“This reinforces regular contacts between the presidents and governments of the two countries, as well as between ministries and agencies,” Lavrov said.

According to the Russian minister, “all this shows that, despite the difficulties that arise from time to time and are inevitable in life, we are moving towards the full implementation of the potential of the Moscow Declaration on Allied Interaction, signed on February 22, 2022.”

An Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), flying from Baku to Grozny, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024.

According to the airline, there were 62 passengers and five crew members on board. Kazakhstan’s Emergency Situations Ministry said 29 people survived. 

On July 19, 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Baku insisted that compensation be paid to the families of those killed and injured in the crash. He also said documents were being prepared to file a case against Russia in international courts.

RIA Novosti noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had said Russian missiles launched by air defence systems to intercept Ukrainian drones exploded several metres from the AZAL aircraft and that fragments struck the plane.