Russia backs dissolution of OSCE Minsk Group on Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Moscow considers the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be a justified and well-founded decision, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

“We regard this step as justified and appropriate in light of the drastically changed situation in the region,” Zakharova stated, as quoted by TASS.

She added that the initiative to dissolve the Minsk Group came from Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The decision to formally end the group’s operations took effect on September 1.

Zakharova also emphasized that throughout the Minsk Group’s existence, Russia “made every possible effort to solve the issues at hand and reconcile the fraternal peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

The Minsk Group was established in 1992 with Russia, France, and the U.S. as co-chairs. In April 2022, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Paris and Washington had ceased cooperation with Moscow in this format, declaring they would no longer engage within it.

The dissolution was formally initiated by the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on August 8, 2025, in Washington.