On July 15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia issued a statement concerning the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh.

Recalling that in October 2022 and May 2023, at the summits under the auspices of the European Union, Armenia recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the territory of Azerbaijan, the Foreign Ministry indicated that Moscow respects the sovereign decision of the Armenian leadership; however, this radically changed the fundamental conditions under which the Statement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia dated November 9, 2020, was signed, as well as the situation of the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in the region.

"We believe that under these conditions, one should not shift the responsibility for the fate of the Armenian population of Karabakh to third countries. It is necessary to immediately start preparing a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan based on the previously reached agreements. We proceed from the fact that an integral part of this agreement should be reliable and clear guarantees of the rights and security of the Armenians of Karabakh, as well as the strict implementation of the entire set of trilateral agreements between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, including the unblocking of transport communications and the launch of the process of delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border," the ministry noted.

The Russian side confirmed its intention to actively contribute to the efforts of the international community to restore normal life in Nagorno-Karabakh. "We are ready to organize a trilateral meeting of foreign ministers in Moscow shortly to discuss ways to implement agreements at the highest level, including the topic of agreeing on a peace treaty, with subsequent access to the Russian-Azerbaijani-Armenian summit in Moscow to sign the said document," the statement added.

Further, the concern of Russia is indicated in connection with the fact that today the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh is developing according to a negative scenario. "The humanitarian crisis in the area is deepening. The local population is experiencing an acute shortage of food, medicine, and necessities and is practically deprived of electricity and gas supply. This could have the most dramatic consequences for the Karabakh Armenians, the ordinary inhabitants of the region. We strongly urge the Azerbaijani leadership to take urgent measures to unblock the Lachin corridor immediately, resume the unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles, and cargo along it in both directions, as well as supply energy to the region," the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded.

Response from Azerbaijan

On the same day, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported that the tripartite statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the statement of July 15, 2023, commenting on the peace process, caused misunderstanding and disappointment.

"This statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is inconsistent with the Declaration on Mutual Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation and with the speeches of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh region," it said.

"It is unacceptable for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to interpret and condition the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the context of the fact that the Prime Minister of Armenia, which has occupied our territories for nearly 30 years, recognizes Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan," the report added.

"Our country has also always shown loyalty to the tripartite declarations signed between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the Russian Federation. Nevertheless, since the first day of signing the mentioned tripartite declaration, the Armenian side has not fulfilled many of the declaration's provisions, and the Russian side has not ensured the full implementation of the declaration within the framework of its obligations," the Ministry emphasized.

"Despite repeated warnings by Azerbaijan about illegal activities using the Lachin road, transportation of military supplies and mines from Armenia to Azerbaijan, rotation of illegal military formations, and illegal bringing of third-country nationals to the territory, nothing has been done to prevent these activities. No action was taken," the Azerbaijani side reported.

"In this context, it is clear to everyone that there is no basis for the attempts to politicize the creation of the Lachin border crossing point, which is the sovereign right of Azerbaijan, and the allegations that a tense humanitarian situation has arisen in the region, the complete removal of the remnants of the Armenian armed forces existing on the territory of Azerbaijan has not yet been ensured. On the contrary, support to the Armenian armed forces is carried out in the region under the supervision of the Russian peacekeeping contingent," the ministry concluded.