Lavrov wants clarification on Azerbaijan's incursion into Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian peacekeeping contingent will continue their activity in Nagorno-Karabakh in strict accordance with its mandate, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan on Friday, April 8, TASS reports.

Lavrov noted that Moscow will continue to ensure the implementation of the trilateral agreements between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh, including the activities of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

"There are three groups of agreements on the Karabakh settlement, reached at the highest level in November 2020, in January and November 2021. And we will continue to ensure the implementation of these agreements, including the activities of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh in strict accordance with its mandate," he said.

According to Lavrov, the circumstances of the Azerbaijani incursion into the area of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh are not completely clear to Russia.

"We are convinced that Armenia trusts the Russian peacekeeping contingent, and the occasional calls for the responsibility of the Russian side and an internal investigation do not reflect a real attitude to the huge role of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh," the Russian diplomat said, referring to calls from Yerevan urging Russia to return the status quo.

Also Friday, Lavrov said Russia will continue to assist Armenia in ensuring the protection of its borders and strengthening the country's defense capability.

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.