OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Responds to PM Pashinyan's Article on Artsakh Status

The Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Igor Popov, stated that during the negotiation process, Russia did not propose to hand over the seven regions to Azerbaijan without addressing the issue of the status of Artsakh.

According to Armenpress, Popov made this remark in response to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's article. He noted, "What is likely referred to as Russian proposals includes the phased settlement plan, the latest version of which was provided to the parties in June 2019 by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. This plan, which largely aligns with the Kazan Document, is based on the fundamental principles for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including the return of five regions to Azerbaijan in the first phase and two in the second phase, and it’s important to emphasize that this is interconnected with the determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. In the first phase, other elements reflecting the interests of Yerevan include ensuring the participation of representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh in OSCE meetings, unblocking the communications, opening borders, and the parties’ commitment to refrain from the use of force. Thus, to assert that Russia has offered to return the seven regions 'just like that,' neglecting the status issue and urging calm, does not correspond to reality,” Popov stated.

Regarding options for resolving the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the co-chair mentioned that proposals placed on the negotiating table in recent years have included solving the status issue through a popular vote under the auspices of the UN and the OSCE, with the agreement of the parties, where any outcome would be acceptable to both sides.

“Incidentally, the width and status of the Lachin Corridor were also proposed to be discussed only in the second phase, considering the return of the Kelbajar and Lachin regions to Azerbaijan. Neither the Armenian nor the Azerbaijani side rejected these proposals; however, a complete agreement was not reached, but it is important that negotiations have been ongoing periodically, especially since 2018 when Yerevan put forward new approaches,” Popov revealed.

In the article published on January 4, Prime Minister Pashinyan mentioned that “the now widely recognized Russian proposals originated in 2013 and were finalized in 2015, which foresee the return of the seven territories to Azerbaijan under a 5+2 formula, the return of refugees, and the deployment of Russian peacekeepers. The package of proposals did not address the status of Nagorno-Karabakh in any way, effectively bypassing this issue.”