The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its position on Karabakh at the time of the meeting between Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels

Baku/15.07.23/Turan: As the trilateral meeting involving European Council President Charles Michel, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan commenced in Brussels on July 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement concerning the situation surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.

The statement noted that Armenia had recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan's territory during summits under the European Union's auspices in October 2022 and May 2023. While the Russian government respected Armenia's sovereign decision, it emphasized that this recognition fundamentally altered the conditions under which the November 9, 2020 Statement by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia was signed, as well as the status of the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in the region.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that responsibility for the fate of the Armenian population in Karabakh should not be shifted to third parties. Instead, it called for immediate preparations to commence a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan, based on the previously agreed-upon terms. The statement emphasized the importance of providing reliable and clear guarantees for the rights and security of the Armenians in Karabakh as an integral part of the agreement. It also emphasized the necessity of strictly implementing the comprehensive trilateral agreements between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, which include the unblocking of transport routes and the initiation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border delimitation process.

In light of these points, Russia expressed its intention to actively contribute to international efforts aimed at restoring normalcy in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Russian government offered to organize a trilateral meeting of foreign ministers in Moscow in the near future to discuss the implementation of high-level agreements, including the negotiation of a peace treaty. The statement proposed that a Russian-Azerbaijani-Armenian summit in Moscow be convened to sign the aforementioned document.

The Russian side expressed concern about the negative trajectory of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. It highlighted the deepening humanitarian crisis in the region, with the local population facing severe shortages of food, medicine, basic necessities, and essential services such as electricity and gas supply. The statement underscored the potential grave consequences for ordinary residents of Karabakh Armenians.

The Azerbaijani leadership was urged to take immediate steps to unblock the Lachin corridor, facilitating unimpeded movement of people, vehicles, and cargo in both directions. Additionally, resuming energy supply to the region was emphasized as a critical measure.