The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called for restraint on the part of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. The diplomat’s comment on Monday, March 6, was published on site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Zakharova recommended that the parties to the conflict take steps to de-escalate the situation and urged to strictly comply with the provisions of the Statement of the leaders of Russia Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Armenia Nikol Pashinyan dated November 9, 2020 on a complete ceasefire and all hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.
The diplomat expressed serious concern over the escalation of tension in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. She noted that in recent days the ceasefire regime has been repeatedly violated there.
In particular, Zakharova drew attention to the shootout with the dead that took place in Karabakh on March 5, which is part of the conflict. According to the representative of the Foreign Ministry, the incident once again confirms the need for Baku and Yerevan to return to negotiations as soon as possible within the framework of the implementation of the provisions of the tripartite statements of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which, among other things, relate to the unblocking of regional communications, the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the preparation of a peace treaty.
“Any issues related to ensuring security and life in the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent (RPK) must be resolved peacefully in contact between the parties under its auspices,” Zakharova stressed.
On Sunday, March 5, a sabotage group of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces attacked a Nagorno-Karabakh police car. As a result, three people were killed and another was shot.
The situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border worsened in the autumn of 2022. Yerevan and Baku accused each other of the escalation, and also reported deaths on each side.
After that, it became known about the blocking of the Lachin corridor. This is the only road that connects Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. On December 30, Zakharova said that Moscow was concerned about the lack of progress in restoring the full functioning of the Lachin corridor for the movement of citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions.
On December 29, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the work of Russian peacekeepers on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh deserves the highest appreciation, since thanks to them security is maintained in the region. In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that Russian peacekeepers are working hourly to resolve the situation in the Lachin corridor.
Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan escalated against the backdrop of contesting the ownership of Nagorno-Karabakh, which in 1988 announced its secession from the Azerbaijan SSR. During the military conflict of 1992-1994, Baku lost control over Karabakh. In September 2020, Baku took control of a number of settlements during military operations. In November of the same year, Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the participation of the Russian Federation, signed an agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh.