Azerbaijan and Belarus agreed to boost economic cooperation between the two former Soviet countries after President Alexander Lukashenko's official visit to Baku.

Some of the more radical, increasingly marginalised Armenian political figures have been actively speculating about - in an apparent attempt to appeal to their shrinking base and remain relevant – counterproductive territorial claims against Turkey. Their statements appear to be aimed at throwing a wrench into the inevitable restoration of diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Ankara.

Azerbaijan increased oil and gas exports in the first quarter of this year, the State Customs Office and State energy firm SOCAR said.

Azerbaijan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) shrank 1.3 percent in the first quarter of 2021 from a year earlier, according to the State Statistics Committee.

EU member state Czech Republic and Russia are at the heart of the latest intrigue. Prague on Saturday ordered 14 Russian diplomats to get out within 48 hours, saying Moscow was involved in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion in the country, which, if true, would be an extraordinary ante-up.

Verbosity is one of the few tangible instruments the West has to try and influence Moscow. It has supplied some military support to Kyiv in the way of weapons sales. But it is in no position – be it NATO, Washington, Berlin, Paris, or the EU - to intervene militarily.