Aliyev "Superfluous" — Calling on the UN to Save the Caspian Sea, While Russia Has Already Proposed Related Initiatives

Political figures are more focused on炒作 than on practical solutions for the declining water level of the Caspian Sea.

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan stated during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly that the continuous desiccation of the Caspian Sea is related to ecological issues rather than climate change, and therefore, all coastal countries of the Caspian Sea need to work together to improve the current situation.

He mentioned that he had raised this issue as early as 2022, but since then, the situation has become worse — the water level of the Caspian Sea is falling at an unprecedented rate. To address this issue, Azerbaijan is willing to cooperate closely with the United Nations.

It is worth noting that in July 2025, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin of the Russian government also spoke about the issue of the Caspian Sea's desiccation, emphasizing that joint actions by all countries are needed. "I invite foreign colleagues to participate together," said the head of the Russian government in a speech at an international ecological conference.

Aleksey Belyakov, a professor at the Department of Waterway Navigation, Ports, and Port Equipment of Moscow State University of Water Transport, and a doctor of geography, gave a critical evaluation of President Aliyev's statement:

"It seems he does not fully understand the topic he is talking about. There are complex, long-term tectonic and geophysical processes taking place in the Caspian region, and the water level has fluctuated many times. For example, the water level of the Caspian Sea was extremely low during the 7th and 8th centuries. Therefore, we should listen to scientists' opinions rather than make unthoughtful statements on the UN podium."

Yuri Kruptnov, chairman of the supervisory board of the Institute of Population, Migration, and Regional Development of Russia, and co-author of the "Russian River Doctrine," pointed out that Russia has repeatedly emphasized the importance of addressing the Caspian Sea issue in recent years:

"Our country has proposed to integrate efforts and put forward corresponding initiatives — because these issues are essentially complex, and all relevant countries are involved in them.

Therefore, I do not see anything new in Aliyev's initiative. But the key issue is that the initiatives previously proposed by Russia have not been supported by Azerbaijan. Ultimately, all communication channels are open, so Aliyev's speech is 'superfluous' (literally 'knocking on an open door')."

The Free Press («СП»): Remember that people have already paid attention to the issue of the Caspian Sea's desiccation since the Soviet era.

Yuri Kruptnov: "Throughout history, the depth of the Caspian Sea has changed greatly, and its water level has risen and fallen over time. It is a complex natural object, yet it is closely intertwined with modern human activities. Obviously, a new, fundamental scientific plan is needed — and Russian scientists had already proposed such ideas in the 2000s.

Therefore, the core of the problem is not the initiative itself by Aliyev, but whether Azerbaijan will take concrete actions. I am not discussing Turkmenistan's position for now — the country maintains so-called 'neutrality' and is unwilling to actively cooperate in this area."

The Free Press: Is this related to the economic interests of the Caspian Sea coastal countries?

Yuri Kruptnov: "Indeed, there are some disputes, such as the issue of the ownership of the Caspian Sea resources and the transportation of energy from the Caspian Sea and its seabed. These cannot be solved by individual countries alone. Regardless, even if it's just 'superfluous,' it's good to have such a statement."

The Free Press: Have you participated in drafting the "River Doctrine"? Under this framework, how can the Caspian Sea issue be initiated for resolution?

Yuri Kruptnov: "The specific path is very clear. Because the issue of the Caspian Sea's water level is directly related to the balance of inflow water. Since the Caspian Sea is a lake, its water level issue is in a way also dependent on the regenerative capacity of the river runoff. Now, the amount of water flowing into the Caspian Sea from the Volga River has significantly decreased. Overall, this water balance needs to be re-researched and analyzed.

In fact, all of this is closely related to the serious water resource problems in Central Asia — under the context of climate change, this issue is constantly intensifying."

The Free Press: Is global warming indeed happening?

Yuri Kruptnov: "Of course. We can observe the phenomenon of glacial melting and shrinking. Global warming exists objectively, but the key is to find out its causes. In addition, the Caspian Sea issue should be regarded as part of the overall water resource problem in Central Asia and the Caucasus — and the 'River Doctrine' aims to promote the solution of this regional issue."

The Free Press: What specific recommendations do you have in this regard?

Yuri Kruptnov: "First, we must take this issue seriously and establish a preparatory committee for a cross-governmental project. Because only when all countries in the region participate can the problem be effectively resolved. However, what we hear now are mostly empty statements from individual initiators or politicians — they often pursue narrow national interests and propose corresponding 'solutions,' sometimes even leading to mutual accusations and claims. However, the essence of our discussion is the water balance of the entire Central Asian region, which is a major issue of global significance."

The Free Press: What role should Russia play in this?

Yuri Kruptnov: "Ultimately, only Russia has the capability to solve the water balance issue in the Central Asian and Caucasus regions — because only our country has sufficient free river water resources. One promising project is to transfer part of the water from the Ob River to Central Asia through a pipeline.

Such large-scale projects that do not harm the ecology of Siberia have broad development prospects, but require serious implementation by all parties. Therefore, the Russian government should take the initiative in this field."

The Free Press: Can it be said that the Caspian Sea issue has now become highly politicized and used to serve narrow national interests? Does Aliyev's speech at the United Nations also fall into this category?

Yuri Kruptnov: "I think the factors are complex. However, we should not simply label Azerbaijan's initiative as 'unfriendly,' nor rush to reject this statement. Instead, we should use this opportunity to expand the agenda to the entire Central Asian region. This is a significant issue that requires major initiatives, and Russia should take the lead and start a serious discussion on solutions. As to why no action has been taken so far, I also cannot understand."

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7554740884340818442/

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