Azerbaijan denies reaching a deal with Nagorno-Karabakh to simultaneously reopen roads to Azerbaijan and Armenia, stating that the "illegal regime" in Karabakh refused the offer, while also maintaining control on the Lachin corridor.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in an interview with POLITICO that Russia can no longer be relied upon as a guarantor of Armenia's security in the face of escalating tensions with Azerbaijan, signaling a shift in Armenia's diplomatic relations and potentially its dependency on Russia.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan suggests that Moscow's commitment to the war in Ukraine has weakened its ability to ensure Armenia's security, indicating a decline in the Kremlin's influence in the region. Pashinyan also reveals plans to ratify the Rome Statute, potentially exposing Russian President Vladimir Putin to arrest if he visits Armenia.
Armenia's recent moves toward diversifying its security partnerships, including joint military exercises with the US, have strained its relationship with Russia, the country's traditional security guarantor, and raised questions about Russia's ability to maintain its influence in the former Soviet empire.
Azerbaijan has launched "anti-terrorist activities" in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, aiming to restore constitutional order and drive out Armenian military formations, potentially sparking a new war in the region.
Azerbaijan claims full control of Nagorno-Karabakh region after Armenia agrees to lay down weapons, marking a victory in the long-standing conflict.
The ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, fearing ethnic cleansing and not wanting to live as part of Azerbaijan, are preparing to leave for Armenia with the assistance of Russian peacekeepers, following a defeat in the conflict with Azerbaijan.
Russia's top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, accused Armenian leaders of worsening tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but expressed hope that Armenia would remain aligned with Russia and friendly regional states rather than outside influences.
Armenians who fled Nagorno-Karabakh following the military operation by Azerbaijan are accusing Russia of betrayal after Russian peacekeepers failed to protect them, causing rage and loss of trust in Moscow.
Armenia's parliament voted to join the International Criminal Court, despite opposition from Russia, in a move that strains their relationship further following the court's issuance of an arrest warrant for President Putin over events in Ukraine.
The Secretary of State has expressed concerns about the possibility of Azerbaijan invading Armenia, indicating the administration's deep concerns about the ongoing conflict and its potential to escalate.
Azerbaijan may potentially invade southern Armenia in the near future to create a land corridor to one of its ethnic enclaves, according to reports, prompting the US State Department to consider holding Azerbaijan accountable for their actions and not renewing the waiver that allows military assistance to be provided to Baku.
