Pashinyan is coming to Moscow to ask for money, concessions, privileges, free weapons, Igor Korotchenko, a well-known Russian military expert and editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, said in an interview with Pravda.ru website. Korotchenko added that there are only two countries in the post-Soviet space that don’t receive money from Russia, one of which is Azerbaijan. He noted that Azerbaijan offers equal cooperation to Russia.

Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Russia were established on April 4, 1992. About 300 bilateral documents have been signed between the two countries over the past 28 years. In particular, the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security of July 3, 1997, the Baku Declaration of January 9, 2001, the Moscow Declaration of February 6, 2004 and the Baku Declaration of Friendship and Strategic Partnership of July 3, 2008. The declaration is an important document ensuring a strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Russia.

In addition, the following documents regulate relations between the two countries, reflecting equal, mutually beneficial cooperation:

"Joint Statement on Priority Areas of Economic Cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan"

"Action Plan for the development of key areas of Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation"

Five relevant roadmaps on important issues such as increasing trade and mutual investment, creating transport routes, as well as expanding humanitarian interaction, including cultural and tourism exchanges

"Cooperation Program between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Russian Federation until 2024.”

In 2019, trade between the two countries amounted to $3.2 billion. This is 27.4% more than in 2018. About 1,000 joint ventures with Russia operate in Azerbaijan. Russia's investment in Azerbaijan amounted to $4.5 billion, and Azerbaijan's capital in the country amounted to $1.5 billion. According to the results of 2020, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia amounted to $2.671 billion. This figure is 11.6% less than in 2019. The decline is explained by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, so far the trade turnover between the two countries increased again. In January-June this year, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia amounted to $1.342 billion, which is 3.7% more than in the corresponding period of 2020. The State Customs Committee (SCC) told Interfax-Azerbaijan that in the first six months of 2021, 9.45% of Azerbaijan's total foreign trade turnover accounted for trade with Russia. Russia is Azerbaijan's third largest trading partner.

Although there is a high level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia at various levels, unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan didn’t need to ask for money from Russia. According to 2019 data, Belarus ($8.1 billion), Ukraine ($606 million) and Armenia are the most indebted countries in the CIS. According to Armenian sources, as of September 2020, Armenia's public debt to Russia was $378 million.

Armenia regularly receives not only loans but also assistance from Russia. The last financial aid was allocated in June 2021. Thus, the Russian government has allocated $3.2 million from the budget for the reconstruction of the regions of Armenia. According to RIA Novosti, since 2010, Russia has provided $70 million in assistance to Armenia in the fields of healthcare, education, industry, development, environmental protection, emergency management, energy efficiency.

Russia's assistance to Armenia does not end there. According to open sources, Russia regularly sends arms to the country. For example, former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan admitted in a press release that Russia provided more than 50,000 tons of free military and technical assistance to Armenia in 2010-2018.

According to open sources, Russia provided arms to Armenia earlier, too, in 2008. The information was published in 2009. It turned out that Russia provided 69 weapons, ammunition, machinery and equipment units to the Armenian Defense Ministry from the 102nd military base. The weapons were handed over to the Armenians under the signature of Lieutenant General Vyacheslav Golovchenko, Chief of Armament of Base 102, then Deputy Commander of the North Caucasus Military District. According to expert estimates, the cost of these weapons and equipment amounted to $800 million.

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In addition to direct military assistance, Russia has repeatedly provided Armenia with large loans at a minimum interest rate for the purchase of weapons. The first loan amounted to $200 million at 3% per annum. Under this loan, which was allocated in 2015, weapons were supplied to Armenia until July 2018. In 2017, Russia provided another $100 million loan to the country at 4% per annum. According to the agreement, Armenia must repay the loan in 2023-2037. The term of the loan covers 2018-2022. Moreover, Russia sells arms to Armenia not at the world arms market price, but at domestic market prices. This means that the weapons will be delivered to Armenia almost free of charge.

Besides, Russia protects Armenia's state border from three sides, so it is not difficult to imagine the scale of the Kremlin's military assistance to Yerevan.

Unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan received weapons from Russia at world market prices. According to 2018, the value of military products purchased by Azerbaijan from Russia exceeded $5 billion.

These facts show that Azerbaijan doesn’t need Russia's help in any way. But Armenia is under the protection of this country in all areas - from border protection to financial assistance.