Russia Aligns with Baku on Artsakh Sovereignty, Backs Azerbaijan’s Claims

Russia’s Foreign Ministry openly reiterated its official position this week, stating that it considers the indigenous Armenian region of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to be part of Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory.

Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told Russian state media that although Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky spoke about the history and suffering of Artsakh’s people, “Russia officially recognizes this region as Azerbaijani territory.”

Zakharova’s comments were meant to calm Azerbaijan’s anger after Medinsky, in an interview with RT, compared the war in Ukraine to the Artsakh conflict. Medinsky warned that a failed Ukraine peace deal could turn parts of Ukraine into a "giant Karabakh.”

His comparison outraged Azerbaijan. The country’s Foreign Ministry slammed Medinsky, accusing him of “distorting the facts” and calling Artsakh a "disputed territory," which they claim it is not. 

Russia was a key player in the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020 — an agreement meant to end the 2020 Artsakh war and provide for the safety and rights of Armenians in Artsakh. Russian peacekeepers were deployed to protect Armenian civilians and ensure stability. However, this did not prevent Azerbaijan from provoking a months-long blockade of the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor that cut off food, medicine, and humanitarian aid to Artsakh. 

While some Russian officials have spoken in support of Artsakh and the Armenian people, the official policy has not changed. The latest statements show that the struggle is ongoing in the region. 

With no clear path to peace, the people of Artsakh continue to face an uncertain future.

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