For the first time in 11 years, Russia has replaced its co-chair in the OSCE Minsk Group, which is mandated to help settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, according to a statement published by the co-chairs over the escalation of the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Igor Khovaev has replaced Igor Popov in the post although no official information has been provided by the Russian side.

Until September 21, 2020, 59-year-old Khovaev served as Russia's Ambassador to the Philippines , the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. On May 5 of the same year, Khovaev als served as the Russian ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands. He speaks English, French and Vietnamese.