Discussing Minsk Group dissolution is merely acknowledgment of fait accompli — Dmitry Rodionov

Speaking with Alpha News, Dmitry Rodionov, Director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies at Russia’s Institute of International Relations, commented on Maria Zakharova’s statement that the OSCE Minsk Group has lost its relevance and the alignment of the positions between Azerbaijan and Russia.

“The point is not that the positions of Russia and Azerbaijan align, but that in this case Russia looks at the facts and recognizes the current reality. The reality is that immediately after the second Karabakh war, Azerbaijan ceased all interaction within the Minsk Group. That is, since then, it has not worked at all. Moreover, after the start of the special military operation in February 2022, the co-chairs of the Minsk Group, the United States and France, ended all communication with the third co-chair, Russia.

De facto, this group no longer exists as an entity capable of convening to discuss or make decisions. There are no prospects of even a single meeting taking place. Now Russia has a somewhat different situation with the US, and a dialogue is being established, but it will take several more years before it gets to such specific issues as the Minsk Group. Therefore, in the current situation, I do not see any prospects for the resumption of any activity of the OSCE Minsk Group,” Rodionov said.