Russia calls on Azerbaijan, Armenia to resume 'rhythmic work' on normalizing ties

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia on Wednesday called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to resume "rhythmic work" on normalizing ties.

In a news conference, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "The Russian side consistently contributes to the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. The Russian Defense Ministry and the Russian peacekeeping contingent, in close cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, are making vigorous efforts to resolve the situation around the Lachin corridor.

"We call on our partners in Baku and Yerevan to resume rhythmic joint work as soon as possible in each of the areas of normalization of bilateral relations."

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but was under Armenian occupation since 1991. In 2020, Azerbaijan retook territory in and around the enclave after a second war that ended in a Russian-brokered cease-fire. Talks to normalize Baku-Yerevan relations have continued since then.

Azerbaijani environmental activists have staged protests since Dec. 12 on the Lachin corridor, the only road across Azerbaijan that links Armenia to Karabakh and where Russian peacekeepers are on guard.

Yerevan says the protesters are government-backed, but Baku denies blockading the road.