A cold snap has begun in Russian-Azerbaijani relations. And already the second in a year. In these conditions, it is worth considering whether such fluctuations in the political climate are accidental or natural,

Azerbaijan has bought oil and natural gas from Russia to meet internal demand while exporting its own energy riches to the West. Russia also has been the main market for Azerbaijan’s fruit and vegetable exports. It also is a key transport corridor for Russia’s trade with Iran and other partners in the Middle East.

In Moscow, Azerbaijan Ambassador Rahman Mustafayev was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry after the raid and notified of "the illegal detention of Russian journalists," according to a ministry spokesperson.