Russia does not intend to give up its role as the main intermediary in regulating relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We are strongly against the presence of non-regional players in the South Caucasus. Moscow negatively evaluated the placement of the EU monitoring mission on the territory of Armenia and, moreover, without the consent of Baku.

Axar.az reports that this was said by the editor-in-chief of "National Defence" magazine, Russian political scientist Igor Korotchenko.

"Moscow is in favour of performing these functions by the observation mission of the CSTO. We see that Russia has not given in to Pashinyan's military-political blackmail attempt, which periodically threatens to withdraw from the CSTO. Pashinyan regularly makes provocative statements. Pashinyan and Armenia are unable to present something to Moscow and blackmail it. Yerevan's leaning towards France, Germany, and the United States will result in the fact that in the end, they will be at the head of Armenia and laugh with satisfaction. Russia is carefully following the events. Putin and Aliyev keep their finger on the pulse of the process and discuss all the most pressing issues. They are politicians who understand each other. Moscow will do everything in its power to prevent Western components from taking a position in the region through Armenia under one name or another. Pashinyan's attempts to drag the West into the South Caucasus in response will receive a very harsh reaction from Russia," he said.