In a secret diplomatic cable dated March 2009, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ann Derse wrote that Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev told her about his late-January trip to Moscow to discuss Azerbaijan’s allegations that Russia had made extensive weapons transfers to Armenia throughout 2008.

The cable reads: “In formal meetings, Abiyev said, his Russian counterpart stuck to the talking points and denied any involvement. up and admitted to having transferred weapons to Armenia. However, “after the second bottle of vodka,” that evening he said, the Russians opened up and admitted to having transferred weapons to Armenia. In an interesting side note, Abiyev quoted Serdyukov as saying: “Do you follow the orders of your President?...Well, I follow the orders of two Presidents.””