Russia says it supports Armenian-Azeri deal on dissolving OSCE Minsk Group

Russia has expressed support for the joint decision by Armenia and Azerbaijan on dissolving the OSCE Minsk Group, the body which was set up in the early 1990s to deal with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution. 

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich, in an interview with RBC, said that the Minsk Group is expected to be fully disbanded by December 2025.

Three posts are to be dissolved – the Minsk Group itself, the post of the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office and the high-level planning group.

The Russian envoy said they ‘see no reason to prevent the dissolution’ of the bodies given the position of the parties.

According to the official, the OSCE permanent council has proposed member states to approve the ministerial decision regarding the matter, and if no party objects it by December 1, the decision will be considered passed.

On August 8, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed the joint appeal to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on the closure of OSCE's Minsk Process and related structure within the framework of the Washington accords.