‘No one should pull the rope to their side’: Zakharova on statements regarding Nagorno-Karabakh

The trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, must be fully implemented by all parties. This was stated by Maria Zakharova, a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, during today’s press briefing, commenting on claims that the trilateral statements of the presidents of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan exist only for the Armenian side, while Baku can freely violate them, such as not releasing prisoners, seizing new territories in Nagorno-Karabakh, and blockading the Stepanakert-Goris road.

“The statements are trilateral, and they have been signed by the leaders of three states. This implies that they are equivalent in terms of fulfilling the obligations of all countries. They were not only signatories but also developed these agreements. In this case, no one should pull the rope to their side. All papers have been signed by the respective countries and developed on a collective basis,” said Zakharova.

According to her, no one should question how equal the trilateral statement is for any side. “Everyone must fulfill what they have signed,” added the diplomat.

It should be recalled that since September 13, Azerbaijani armed forces have been intensively firing artillery and large-caliber firearms in the direction of Goris, Sotk, and Jermuk. The adversary has also used UAVs.

A ceasefire regime along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border was established at 20:00 on September 14, which has been periodically violated by the Azerbaijani side.

It should also be noted that on the morning of December 12, a group of Azerbaijanis in civilian clothes closed the Stepanakert-Goris highway, which connects Artsakh to Armenia, under the pretext of environmental reasons. The same happened on December 3. After more than three hours of negotiations by the Russian peacekeepers, the road was opened for both sides.

Starting from December 13, the Azerbaijani side also cut off gas supplies to Artsakh. The people are deprived of heating, hot water, medical facilities are unable to provide primary medical assistance, and the educational institutions in Artsakh, which are heated by gas, have suspended classes.