At a briefing for journalists on August 30, commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron's recent statement, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Russia welcomes any initiatives that do not duplicate or undermine its efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

"On the other hand, France's activity in this direction is well known. Within the framework of such mediation efforts, it is necessary to take into account the position of both sides of the conflict - both Armenia and Azerbaijan. And without this, it is not worth counting on any advancement of the situation, which is already heated enough," the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized.

Moreover, while answering a question about what Russia has done for the release of three young Armenians detained by Azerbaijan in the Lachin Corridor, Zakharova said that the current situation in the Lachin Corridor is the result of Armenia's recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. "I would like to remind you that the situation in the Lachin Corridor arose as a result of Armenia's recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. This was determined at the summit held in 2022 and May 2023 under the auspices of the European Union with the participation of the leaders of the two countries," she added.

The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said: "In this context, I consider it inappropriate, incorrect, and unfounded to place the responsibility on the Russian peacekeeping contingent. We are looking at the task of this contingent, I repeat, in the new conditions created as a result of the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan by the authorities of Yerevan."

Maria Zakharova added that the Russian peacekeeping contingent makes necessary efforts to ensure the rights and security of Karabakh Armenians, including in the context of direct dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert [Khankendi in Azerbaijani].

Response from Armenia

On August 31, the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated that another comment by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia of similar content claiming that the situation unfolded in the Lachin corridor is a consequence of the fact that referring to the Alma-Ata Declaration, in Prague, October 2022 Armenia recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, and after that, the task of the Russian peacekeepers became the possible influence on the issues of rights and security of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, causes confusion and disappointment.

"We advise the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry to refrain from maneuvering the circumstances of the situation and thereby further complicating it in the absence of actions from Russian peacekeepers towards the prevention of the blockade of the Lachin corridor or its opening afterward," the ministry noted.

"We also reiterate that the Republic of Armenia is faithful to its commitment towards establishing stability in the region based on mutual recognition of territorial integrity and borders. At the same time, we consider imperative for lasting peace the reopening of the Lachin corridor in accordance with the Trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, and in line with the Orders of the International Court of Justice, the prevention of a humanitarian catastrophe in Nagorno-Karabakh and addressing of all existing problems through the Baku-Stepanakert dialogue under international auspices," the report added.