Russia-Azerbaijan Tensions Soar, Threatening Moscow’s Influence

The rift, provoked by the deaths of two ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russian custody, was the latest in a series of spats that revealed a deeper diplomatic rift between the former allies.

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Iran Executes Man Over Deadly 2023 Attack on Azerbaijan Embassy

The killing of the embassy’s head of security strained an already tense relationship between the neighboring countries.

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What the Pope Told Me About Politics

My brief tour with Pope Francis, the diplomat of our times.

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Azerbaijan’s Leader, Emboldened, Picks a Rare Fight With Putin

Russia’s president is said to have blamed birds or a Ukrainian drone for a Dec. 25 crash of an Azerbaijani plane. Azerbaijan says Russian air defenses were at fault.

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Azerbaijani Anger Over Plane Crash Grows, in Deepening Schism With Russia

In the crash’s aftermath, Azerbaijan has unleashed rare and stinging criticism of Russia, with the country’s president saying Moscow’s response has caused “surprise, regret and rightful indignation.”

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Azerbaijan Blames Russia for Plane Crash and Rebukes Kremlin

The leader of Azerbaijan criticized the Russian response to the crash of a passenger jet that Azerbaijani officials said had most likely been hit by Russian air defenses.

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Putin Apologizes but Stops Short of Taking Responsibility for Kazakhstan Crash

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia told the Azerbaijani leader, Ilham Aliyev, in a phone call, “that the tragic incident took place in Russian airspace.”

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