Zakharova on the Closure of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan

Russia does not find it appropriate to equate the Geneva discussions with the format of the OSCE Minsk Group. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova during a weekly press briefing. She addressed the question of why the West can conduct dialogue with Russia regarding Georgia during the Geneva discussions held on October 5, while refusing to cooperate with Moscow about Nagorno-Karabakh within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

“As co-chairs of the Minsk Group, Washington and Paris refused to cooperate with Moscow on fictitious grounds in February of this year, effectively 'burying' the group as an international platform. What more can I add? Regarding the Geneva international discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus, work in this platform is being carried out under the auspices of the co-chairs—in the face of the UN, OSCE, and EU—while Washington is just one of the participants in the negotiations. In this regard, we consider it incorrect to place these two formats on the same level,” said Zakharova.

Zakharova also addressed the closure of the Stepanakert-Goris highway by a group of Azerbaijanis on December 3. “The resolution of the incident that occurred on December 3 has been handled by the Russian peacekeeping forces, and the movement along the Lachin Corridor has been restored with the cooperation of both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides,” she stated.

As for the recent statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, Zakharova noted that there is nothing more to add to Lavrov's statement. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson added that Moscow wants to see an official, unified position from Yerevan on this issue, after which a discussion about the various nuances of the issue can take place.