Russian Foreign Ministry's Statement Addressed to Baku and Yerevan

We express our serious concern regarding the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, in the responsibility zone of the Russian peacekeeping contingent along the Armenian-Azerbaijani contact line, as well as about the dialogue between official Baku and Yerevan. This was stated in a declaration by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“We are extremely concerned to note that the number of violations of the ceasefire regime and various incidents has increased, resulting in regular casualties on both sides. We consider the rise of accusatory and aggressive rhetoric in the public domain of Azerbaijan and Armenia to be no less dangerous. In the context of the recent developments surrounding the events of April 23, we particularly emphasize the unacceptability of any unilateral steps that violate the main provisions of the trilateral statement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia from November 9, 2020, regardless of whether it concerns uncoordinated changes in the mode of operation of the Lachin corridor or its targeted use, which is not consistent with the peace agenda.

We urge the parties to urgently return to the existing agreements. We proceed from the premise that in any case, the local population should not suffer, and no obstacles should be created for their livelihoods,” the message states.

The Russian Foreign Ministry believes that most of the arisen problems stem from the long-term stagnation of the negotiation process based on the trilateral agreements between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia and the lack of progress: “We hope that Baku and Yerevan will demonstrate political will and will be able to overcome this negative trend in the near future. The Russian side is ready to provide all necessary assistance to its close allies—Azerbaijan and Armenia—both at the political level and on the ground, with the participation of the command of the Russian peacekeeping mission.

We also warn external Western players and local Russophobic elements, who are working on their opportunistic agenda, to refrain from attempts to escalate the situation, including conducting a humiliating campaign against Russia,” the statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry says.