Russia 'extremely concerned' over escalation on Azerbaijani-Armenian border

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia on Tuesday expressed "extreme concern" over the recent escalation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry called on the sides to restrain from further escalation, exercise restraint and observe the cease-fire in accordance with the agreements reached in 2020 and 2021.

"We are in close contact with Baku and Yerevan. An appeal from the Armenian leadership has been received with a request to assist in resolving the situation in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and through the CSTO (Collective Security Organization).

"We expect that the agreement reached as a result of Russian mediation on a ceasefire from 9.00 a.m. Moscow time on September 13 this year will be implemented in full," the ministry said.

The ministry added that it continues to maintain the position that all disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be resolved exclusively with political and diplomatic means, and the issues, related to the border demarcation – within the bilateral commission on delimitation of Armenian-Azerbaijani border with Russia's assistance.

Relations between the former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

New clashes broke out in the fall of 2020, during which Baku liberated several cities and over 300 settlements and villages occupied by Yerevan. The fighting ended with a deal brokered by Russia.