Putin and Pashinyan discussed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during which they discussed the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, transmits Kremlin press office.

Pashinyan reminded Putin that according to the tripartite statement of the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as the Prime Minister of Armenia, the Lachin corridor should be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. At the same time, Baku guaranteed the unhindered passage of passengers, cargo, and people along the Lachin corridor.

“Now it turns out that the Lachin corridor is not under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Of course, I would like to discuss this situation, what are the options,” the prime minister said.

The Russian leader, in turn, offered to discuss bilateral relations. According to him, over the ten months of this year, the trade turnover between the countries increased by 73%.

“But we started yesterday, and the three of us managed to talk: of course, the main issue is the settlement of the situation in the South Caucasus as a whole, Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, everything related to Karabakh,” he added.

On December 22, it became known that Armenia refused take part in the meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on a peace treaty. The trilateral talks were to take place on 23 December.

Armenian side confirmed readiness to participate in the meeting in Moscow about two weeks ago. However, due to the blocking of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, Yerevan asked to postpone the negotiations. The Armenian Foreign Ministry explained that at present, the priority for the country’s foreign minister is to resolve the situation around the Lachin corridor. In response to the decision to refuse the meeting, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed regret.

Baku on December 12 for the second time since the beginning of the month blocked the Stepanakert-Goris highway in the Lachin corridor. This is the only road connecting the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) and Armenia. According to the Azerbaijani side, the pretext for closing on December 12 was the need to check the cargo for the export of gold from mines actually controlled by the NKR.