On 11 January, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in person with the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Moscow to review the implementation of the trilateral statement of Nagorno-Karabakh. 

The meeting between the two heads of states was initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who summarised the efforts and the achieved results since the trilateral statement came into power. “I think that today it would be important, first of all, to outline the next steps in the key areas of the conflict settlement, spelled out in the joint statement of 9 November. I am referring to issues related to the activities of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, clarification of demarcation lines, solution of humanitarian problems [and] protection of cultural heritage sites,” Putin said. He noted that the task of unblocking economic, trade and transport links in the region and opening borders deserves special attention. In his words, it is assumed that a special trilateral working group chaired by the vice-prime ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan would deal with these issues. 

“Russia values ​​the partnership and good-neighbourly relations that bind our countries and peoples; therefore, we followed the outbreak of the armed conflict with concern for the fate of people. The large-scale hostilities, unfortunately, led to significant human casualties, exacerbated the already difficult situation in the Caucasus [and] increased the risks of the spread of terrorism,” Putin further added. Putin also noted that in all its actions Russia sought to follow the key developments achieved by the OSCE Minsk Group. He stressed that he continues to regularly check his actions with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair partners. 

Putin emphasised that the situation was calm when speaking on the security situation in the region. According to him, 23 observation posts are operating in the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers, and 4 additional posts are responsible for the safety of traffic along the corridor. The Russian President further stated that the exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of the dead was carried out and that the international centre for humanitarian response is successfully functioning. He also said that specialists are solving pressing issues related to the establishment of normal life in settlements, the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure, the protection of historical religious and cultural monuments. 

Putin also noted that the employees of the centre are engaged in the restoration of energy and heat supply, and more than 800 tons of building materials and about 1.5 million tons of humanitarian supplies have already been delivered from Russia to the conflict zone, in addition, medical assistance is provided to the population. According to him, more than 479 hectares of territory have been cleared of mines, 182 km of roads, 710 buildings and structures have been checked, more than 22 thousand explosive objects have been discovered and destroyed.

Prior to the meeting in Moscow, the second meeting between the chiefs of security services of Armenia (Armen Abzyan) and Azerbaijan (Colonel-General Ali Nagiyev) took place in the border neutral zone adjacent to the Yeraskh community of the Ararat region of Armenia and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. According to official information, issues on joint investigation of incidents at state borders, the security of Nagorno-Karabakh, identification of burial places in combat zones, and exchange of the hostages, as well as clarification of the fate of hostages missing in the First Karabakh War and the April War, were discussed at the meeting. It was also noted in the negotiations that the continued observance of the ceasefire in accordance with the trilateral statement serves the interests and security of both peoples, including the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Karabakh.

Pashinyan’s spokesperson Mane Gevorgyan stated prior to the meeting that an additional agreement could be signed in Moscow. “There are no plans to sign a document in Moscow on the settlement of the Karabakh problem or any territorial issue. If it is possible to reach agreement on the agenda items, that is, on economic issues, exchange of prisoners, the issue of missing persons, then it is possible to sign a joint statement following the meeting,” she said. She also envisaged that the topics of discussion between Aliyev, Pashinyan and Putin would be the opening regional communications, international cargo transportation, including from Armenia to Russia and Iran, as well as from the central regions of Armenia to Syunik region, via the Nakhichevan railway. She noted that for the Armenian side, however, the key and principled issue is the return of prisoners of war, search and rescue operations of soldiers who remained in the Azerbaijani rear, recovery of the bodies of the killed soldiers and clarifying the fate of the missing persons.

The opposition forces in Armenia tried to block the road to the Zvartnots International Airport in order to prevent Pashinyan from boarding the flight to Moscow. “Any decision reached, or agreement made with the participation of Nikol Pashinyan against the interests of Armenia, including of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian people in general, is null and void from the beginning because the person clinging to Armenia’s Prime Minister's seat has exceeded his constitutional powers and lost his political legitimacy. The co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, authorised by the international community to mediate in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, are obliged to take steps to stop the plans threatening the Armenians by Turkey and Azerbaijan, establishing stability and peace in the region, settling the Karabakh issue in accordance with international law and principles,” stressed the statement of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun party. 

Even Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian showed scepticism towards Pashinyan’s visit to Moscow, calling the government to be accountable to the public and stick to Armenia’s constitution and laws when implementing the ceasefire agreement. Sarkissian also released an article, calling for the creation of the “Fourth Armenian Republic.” “The only logical and civilised way out of the situation is to hold snap elections within a reasonable timeframe and introduce the necessary amendments to the Electoral Code, which will make it possible to start the process of state-building anew,” his article pointed out. Sarkissian emphasised the need to form a government of national accord before the elections. According to him, the government would have three goals, focusing on efforts to address the aftermath of military activities, prepare and implement a roadmap to lead the country out of the political and economic crisis and carry out a legal reform to create conditions for future elections. 

“The Third Republic of Armenia is a thing of the past, we are facing a new reality that forces us to be very sober, accountable and purposeful. The national carelessness, disorganisation, disorder and inconsistency, the false agendas, ideas and approaches that have accompanied us in recent decades must be thrown into the archives of history. The Fourth Republic must become the new ideological, conceptual and substantive basis of our people. The emphasis will be placed on the quality of the state, which requires a radical overhaul of the system of interrelations with our compatriots around the world,” he elaborated.