If Peacekeepers Leave Nagorno-Karabakh, They Must Return to Russia: Pashinyan

If Russian peacekeepers leave Nagorno-Karabakh, they must return to Russia. This statement was made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a broadcast on public television.

"They are the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh; if they leave there, they must return to Russia," he said in response to a question about whether it is possible for the peacekeepers to come to Armenia and stay here. The full interview can be viewed today at 22:10.

It is noteworthy that earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the activities of Russian peacekeepers would be adapted to the new reality. According to official reports, Russian peacekeepers have already closed 6 of their observation posts.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also announced that Armenia is ready to negotiate with Azerbaijan in the "3+3" format. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated on October 6 that meetings in the "3+3" format (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Russia, and Iran) would take place in the near future. He noted that Azerbaijan is the initiator of the "3+3" format meetings.

"Armenia is ready to hold a meeting in the '3+3' format. It was previously agreed that the next meeting in the '3+3' format would take place in Tehran," Pashinyan said.