"The deal is basically a long-term negotiation tactic between the two countries," he said.
Challenges
Aside from the Turkish-backed rebel coalition, HTS - with a large number of foreign fighters - is among Idlib's dominant rebel forces.
In 2016, it was designated a "terrorist group" by Russia and thus was never included in ceasefire deals and de-escalation attempts.
Since the signing of the Sochi deal, HTS has not revealed its stance on the agreement but has accepted to withdraw its heavy weapons from the zone, without announcing that it has formally agreed to do so, activists on the ground confirmed to Al Jazeera.
The move highlights HTS' attempt to remain on Turkey's "good side", Abazeid, who is also an expert on armed groups in Syria, said.
"HTS will do what Turkey says to gain its blessing because they may be a threat in a next phase of this war," he said.
But HTS's presence in itself remains a threat to the agreement, despite their decision to disarm since Russia has cited their presence in the past as the reason for attacking areas in Idlib.
The zone - sandwiched between Latakia in the west and Aleppo in the east - covers tens of villages that span across the area, most notably the Jisr al-Shughour district, which has come under government bombardment in the past, as well as villages in the neighbouring Hama governorate.
Between these villages are defence lines or points guarded by either one or multiple factions - including factions under the NLF, and HTS.
"There aren't many towns or villages controlled exclusively by HTS," Ahmed Husseinat, an activist in Jisr al-Shughour, which is controlled by both the NLF and HTS, told Al Jazeera.
This is why isolating HTS and other smaller groups is a complex task facing Turkey at this time, Marwan Kabalan, director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, told Al Jazeera.
According to Kabalan, Turkey has so far succeeded in dividing HTS into two groups - the more "pragmatic" group of Syrians who are keen on protecting their families and local communities from a potential Russian assault and a second group of primarily foreign fighters.
HTS 'power move'
Rebel infighting has also added complexity to Turkey's objectives in Idlib.
On Friday, fighting broke out, lasting three consecutive days, between NLF faction Nour al-Din al-Zinki and HTS in Kafr Halab - a town located southwest of Aleppo.
Nour al-Din al-Zinki spokesperson Mohammed Adib told Al Jazeera that HTS launched the attack, saying they were "looking for someone who works for the government".
"We were surprised to see them surround Kafr Halab on Friday morning … this is the excuse HTS uses every time they launch an aggressive move against any town or village in the area," Adib said.
While Adib believes the attack was aimed at gaining more ground, experts say it was merely a "power move".
"HTS still wants to prove it is capable and here on the ground even after Sochi - to show they're not disintegrated," Abazeid said.
Kabalan says HTS fears a potential attack by the Turkish-backed NFL.
"They're trying to please [by agreeing to quietly disarm], but also trying to prove they're strong," Kabalan said.
Turkey is still undecided on the way forward to dissolve HTS, but Kabalan says the end game for Russia is to try to achieve its objectives through diplomacy and pressure instead of military force.
"This is why I believe the agreement will hold," he said.
But Abazeid says differences over how to secure key routes may still jeopardise the deal.
Russia and the Syrian government want to establish control over two major highways passing through the region - the M4, which connects the port city of Latakia to Aleppo and oil-rich province of Deir Az Zor; and the M5, which links the capital Damascus to Aleppo, and eventually to the trade route to Turkey and Europe.
The upcoming phase will also determine whether Turkey will agree to a "soft" government comeback to the province.
"It is for all of these undecided reasons that a fully-fledged assault is still possible," said Abazeid.
"The excuse will always be the presence of terrorist organisations."
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