The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, has weighed in on the mediation efforts of the EU in the settlement of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the EU civil mission in Armenia.

"We note the absolutely politicized and opportunistic nature of the EU's mediation in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, where the focus is not on the desire to contribute to stabilization, but on ideology and the desire to oust Russia,” Zakharova told a briefing on Friday, June 9.

“One of the specific examples is the inconspicuous results of the activities of the EU mission in Armenia.”

The European Union launched a civilian mission in Armenia back in February, which is tasked to promote settlement of the situation with Azerbaijan. The mission’s two-year mandate envisages patrolling and reporting about the situation to Brussels to raise its awareness of the situation on the ground. According to experts in Brussels, the mission is ultimately geared to enhance the European Union’s influence in the South Caucasus amid its confrontation with Russia.