Determining the Status of Artsakh is Unlikely to Progress in the Present Situation: Konstantin Zatulin

Konstantin Zatulin, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma’s CIS Affairs Committee, discussed the outcomes of the negotiations between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia that took place in Moscow the day before, analyzing the situation in the region, particularly regarding the status of Artsakh.

The politician stated that at the time when it was essential to cease hostilities, the question of determining the status of Artsakh was not opportune. “This issue remains unresolved even after this meeting, and no attention has been paid to it,” Zatulin remarked, recalling that from the very beginning, the status of Artsakh has been the reason for both the war and the negotiations.

“The question of determining the status of Artsakh is unlikely to progress in the current situation, given Armenia’s circumstances, where its positions are questioned, primarily within Armenia itself. Undoubtedly, Azerbaijan, buoyed by victory, is not prepared to make any concessions regarding the status issue… This means that the question of the status of Artsakh, which is nevertheless the most crucial, is still postponed for better times,” added the Russian parliamentarian.

It should be noted that the trilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin, Ilham Aliyev, and Nikol Pashinyan took place the day before at the Kremlin. As a result of the trilateral meeting, an agreement was reached to establish a working group aimed at opening economic routes, which will present a regional infrastructure development program to the leaders on March 1. At the end of the meeting, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the parties failed to resolve the issue of prisoner exchanges and did not discuss the status of Artsakh.