Russian Officials Comment on Future of Russian Peacekeepers in Karabakh
On October 11, Dmitry Peskov, the Spokesman of the Russian President, said that the next disengagement of Russian peacekeepers stationed in Karabakh was not discussed with Armenia because the peacekeeping contingent is located in the territory of Azerbaijan.
"No, this issue [with Armenia] has not been discussed. Now, de facto and de jure, our peacekeepers are actually on the territory of Azerbaijan. Prime Minister of Armenia Pashinyan also recognizes this. As for them continuing to stay there and all other related questions, this, of course, will be discussed with the Azerbaijani side," the representative of the Kremlin said.
Moreover, during a briefing, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, said that the activity of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh will be adapted to new conditions.
"The conditions under which the Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed to the region have changed significantly as a result of the clashes that took place on September 19-20 of this year, and the activities of our peacekeepers will be adapted against the background of the mass protest of the population," she added.
The spokeswoman said the Russian peacekeeping contingent had dismantled several stationary and temporary observation posts in Karabakh. According to Zakharova, fundamental peacekeepers-related issues will be discussed with Baku.