"Russia does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state. Its status must be determined through political negotiations. The OSCE Minsk Group is dealing with this," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a recent news briefing while commenting on the so-called "elections" held by the separatist regime in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

Axar.az informs that, the Russian MFA spokesperson recalled that there was a joint statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in this regard: "We believe that elections are important for the normal life of the population. At the same time, as you know, the Russian Federation does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state. Its status must be determined through political negotiations. We do not think that the process of further peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict depends in any way on this event."

Zakharova noted that comment on the known issue is not initiative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, but a response to a question addressed to them.