By Alexander Pracht
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov voiced Moscow’s support for Armenia’s sovereignty and its efforts to normalize relations with Azerbaijan during an official visit to Yerevan on Wednesday. Speaking after talks with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, Lavrov said Russia remains committed to fostering a comprehensive peace in the South Caucasus.
“Russia sincerely seeks to help normalize Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, using the trilateral agreements as a solid foundation,” Lavrov said.
He reiterated that Armenia can count on Russian support in key areas such as the unblocking of regional transport routes, border delimitation with Azerbaijan, and the resolution of humanitarian issues, taking into account the interests of all parties. However, Russia’s proposal on transport connectivity is unlikely to satisfy Yerevan, as Moscow supports Azerbaijan’s demand for what they call a corridor through southern Armenia with no border controls and under Russian oversight, a framework widely seen in Armenia as unacceptable under current conditions.
During the press conference, Lavrov emphasized that regional issues in the South Caucasus should primarily be resolved by the countries of the region and their, quote, “immediate neighbors”. While not opposing outside engagement, he warned against foreign interference that could fuel tensions or sideline the interests of local states.
“We are not against non-regional players developing relations with countries in this region as long as this cooperation doesn’t aim to provoke instability or disregard the legitimate interests of regional states for the sake of geopolitical games. That kind of interference has never led to anything good,” he said, continuing Russia’s rhetoric of discontent regarding Western involvement in the South Caucasus, the kind of wording that has also been voiced by both Moscow and Baku in response to France’s recent military supplies to Armenia.
The Russian foreign minister also said that Moscow still has plans to launch a consulate in the southern Armenian town of Kapan. “The issue was discussed during our talks today,” he revealed. While announced years ago, the consulate has yet to open; sources in diplomatic circles indicated that Armenia has been trying to stall the opening, with Russia publicly suggesting that the delay is due to the Armenian side.
Lavrov further underlined the importance of the allied relationship between Armenia and Russia, citing deep historical and cultural ties. He said Moscow values this partnership and stands ready to support Armenia’s defense, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
“There is already a strong foundation across all areas of our bilateral cooperation, which we must use wisely and to the fullest extent,” he concluded.
At the joint press briefing, Mirzoyan said Armenia is not seeking to reformat its cooperation with Russia, despite acknowledging that recent events exposed flaws in the existing security architecture. He stressed that Yerevan’s commitments to Moscow remain in force and are formally documented.
The relations between Armenia and Russia have worsened in recent years, largely due to Yerevan’s increasingly Western-oriented foreign policy under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Moscow has voiced strong criticism of Armenia’s aspirations to join the European Union, with Foreign Minister Lavrov recently condemning the move as counterproductive.
Tensions have also deepened over Armenia’s dissatisfaction with Russia’s lack of military support during Azerbaijan’s 2022 incursion into eastern Armenia. Lavrov pushed back today on a journalist questioning this inaction, replying that the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization had sent a fact-finding mission to the affected region and that it acted “ in line with our treaty commitments.”
Today’s visit follows a similar meeting in January, when Mirzoyan traveled to Moscow and both sides pledged to maintain close ties despite growing differences. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was in Moscow earlier this month to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II.
Today’s visit of the Russian delegation triggered a demonstration in front of the Foreign Ministry building in central Yerevan. Various civil society representatives protested Armenia’s diplomatic engagement with Russia, citing Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and its interference with Armenia’s sovereign affairs and domestic politics as their primary concern.
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