As reported earlier, the Russian Ambassador Sergey Kopirkin was summoned to the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in connection with comments made in the January 12, 2025, broadcast of the 'Vesti Nedeli' program on the 'Rossiya' TV channel, which allegedly targeted Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Axar.az reports that the program highlighted the vital importance of the Zangezur Corridor for Azerbaijan.

"The construction of a highway along the Zangezur Corridor is of vital importance for Azerbaijan. This agreement was reached as part of the trilateral declaration signed by Putin, Aliyev, and Pashinyan on November 10, 2020. The 40-kilometer-long Zangezur Corridor is supposed to connect Azerbaijan’s mainland with the Nakhchivan exclave.

Last Tuesday, while addressing journalists, the President of Azerbaijan firmly stated:
'The Zangezur Corridor must and will be opened. The sooner they understand this, the better. We cannot remain in this situation. Why should we use various alternative routes to reach Nakhchivan, an integral part of Azerbaijan? We need a direct connection, and this does not undermine Armenia’s sovereignty. They simply need to fulfill the terms of the November 10 declaration. Everything is clearly outlined there.

For over four years, we have shown patience. For over four years, we have sought a resolution through dialogue. How much longer must we wait, and why should we? They must consider this. I have said before: they should not provoke us and should understand that we are the dominant force here. Azerbaijan is the leading economy, the leading military power, and the leading state in the South Caucasus. In today’s world, the power factor is paramount, and no one should forget that.'

The report highlighted that Nikol Pashinyan continues to ignore the obligations he undertook in the November 10 declaration and President Ilham Aliyev's firm demand for the opening of the Zangezur Corridor."