The Azerbaijani authorities have extended the “Covid quarantine” until May 1. The country's land borders have been closed for three years.

There are several real reasons for border closures, and the main reason is financial. Firstly, people are forced to buy expensive air tickets. Under the conditions of state capitalism in Azerbaijan, this brings profit to the ruling clique and people close to her who own Azerbaijan Airlines.

Secondly, the regime may be afraid of an influx of Russian citizens and does not want changes similar to those in Georgia, which will be impossible to control.

Thirdly, thanks to closed borders, it is impossible to bring unregistered electronic goods into the country. Everything is checked at the airport, and it has become more difficult to bring more than one phone. As a result, people are forced to buy expensive electronics in Azerbaijan without going beyond its market. And the companies that sell equipment belong to people close to the ruling regime and the Aliyev family.

Residents of border regions, for whom back-and-forth travel and trade were a source of income, are suffering the most from closed borders. Also suffering are those who cannot travel to Iran for treatment.

The closure of borders and the high cost of air tickets are becoming a problem for most residents of the country. There is a growing generation that doesn’t even know what it’s like to travel by train to another country. However, a regime of truth has been established in the country in which people take such measures when the authorities justify them with security considerations and threats from outside.