Ukraine Needs Allies, Not Amnesia: Viktor Yushchenko in Azerbaijan

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko’s recent visit to Azerbaijan from August 16-18 was seen as a significant step in deepening bilateral ties between Kyiv and Baku. During this trip, Yushchenko met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and expressed warm sentiments about their friendship, which he claimed spanned over two decades.

Yushchenko praised Azerbaijan for its support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and the humanitarian aid provided since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion. The symbolism behind the visit extended beyond diplomatic relations, as Yushchenko is a well-known symbol of Ukraine's 2004-05 Orange Revolution, which emerged after widespread protests against electoral fraud.

In contrast, Aliyev's political career has been markedly different, as he has been in power for over two decades following his succession to his father, Heydar Aliyev, in 2003. Azerbaijani commentator Elnur Mammadli pointed out that Aliyev was not among those who supported Yushchenko during the Orange Revolution and noted that Azerbaijan experienced its own political tension a year prior to the 2003 election that brought Aliyev to power, followed by opposition protests and a harsh crackdown.

The visit to Baku has raised concerns about the potential impact on Azerbaijan's political freedom, as Freedom House classifies the country as "Not Free" and Human Rights Watch has documented severe restrictions on political competition and civil liberties. These concerns were voiced by Azerbaijani activist Isa Sadigov, who questioned how a leader associated with Ukraine's democratic struggle could embrace a ruler accused of suppressing political freedoms.

Despite these concerns, the visit comes at a time when Azerbaijan is strengthening its relations with Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Azerbaijan in April 2023, and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov followed suit in August. Yushchenko's visit, therefore, serves not only as a diplomatic gesture but also as a means of reinforcing Ukraine's status as an important ally and distancing itself from Russia.

Azerbaijani activist Zamig Mammadli cautioned against labeling Yushchenko as a "PR tool" for Aliyev, emphasizing that security priorities often take precedence over concerns about a country's democratic record. While strategic interests and political symbolism are not always the same, a nation fighting for survival requires every partner it can obtain. However, there exists a fine line between pragmatic diplomacy and forsaking one's principles.