Between Corruption and Soft Power – Analysis of the Phenomenon of Azerbaijani Caviar Diplomacy

The purpose of the article is to characterize the phenomenon of caviar diplomacy, as well as to place it in the context of Azerbaijan’s relations with the European Union. The main research hypothesis assumes that caviar diplomacy is an obstacle and a destabilizing factor in bilateral relations. The analysis of the issue was carried out using the latest European statistics, opinions of Azerbaijani and European politicians and experts, as well as based on examples of the most serious diplomatic scandals of recent years.