The Russian Ministry of Defense and the leadership of the Russian peacekeeping mission are taking active steps to de-escalate the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, told a press briefing on Wednesday, March 30.

Zakharova stressed that the peacekeepers act in strict accordance with the provisions of the statement of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, dated November 9, 2020.

The diplomat was asked what was really happening in the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping forces and whether this could be a provocation by Azerbaijan, perhaps even at the instigation of Turkey, in order to “fish in troubled waters” while Russia is focused on Ukraine.

"The position of Russia regarding the latest incidents in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping mission is enshrined in a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry dated March 26," Zakharova said in response.

"Moscow has urged the parties to ensure a complete ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and the unconditional implementation of the trilateral agreements of November 9, 2020. The Russian Ministry of Defense and the leadership of the Russian peacekeeping mission are taking active steps to de-escalate the situation. At the same time, the peacekeepers act in strict accordance with the provisions of the above-mentioned statement of the leaders of the three countries.”

According to her, Russia is in constant contact with Armenia and Azerbaijan, and information about the operational situation on the ground is published daily in the reports of the Russian Defense Ministry.

Azerbaijan has broken into Nagorno-Karabakh, and the incursion has left three Armenian soldiers dead and at least 14 others injured. On March 24, Azerbaijan stormed into the zone of the responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers stationed in the area and is refusing to completely withdraw its forces from strategic heights.