Russia considers the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group on the Karabakh conflict justified - MFA
04.09.2025,
10:41
The Russian side considers the decision of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to dissolve the Minsk Group on the Karabakh conflict justified.
YEREVAN, September 4. /ARKA/. The Russian side considers the decision of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to dissolve the Minsk Group on the Karabakh conflict justified. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova at a briefing on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.
The diplomat recalled that the Russian Federation, along with other OSCE members, took direct part in making this decision based on the consensus rule. "We consider this step justified, justified in view of the fundamental changes in the situation in the region," TASS quotes Zakharova as saying.
"The initiative to curtail the Minsk institutions belongs to Armenia and Azerbaijan. The foreign ministers of these states addressed the OSCE with a corresponding proposal on August 11, thereby confirming that Baku and Yerevan no longer need the tools of the Minsk process. Let me remind you that throughout the entire period of the Minsk Group's work, the Russian co-chairmanship has made every effort to solve the tasks set in the interests of reconciling the friendly peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia," Zakharova recalled.
The OSCE Minsk process was launched in 1992 to resolve the Karabakh conflict, its main element was the Minsk Group, co-chaired by Russia, the United States and France.
On the closure of the OSCE MG
On September 1, 2025, it became known that the OSCE officially closed the OSCE Minsk Group on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (created in 1992) and related structures, following a joint appeal by Armenia and Azerbaijan. This decision of the Council of Ministers of the Organization was welcomed by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu.
The OSCE is scheduled to complete the procedures related to the completion of the Minsk process no later than December 1, 2025; only administrative functions, such as the transfer of property and equipment, will continue.
The OSCE Minsk Group operated under the co-chairmanship of Russia, the United States and France; permanent members are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Finland, Sweden. The group's tasks were to ensure negotiations between Baku and Yerevan, help them conclude a peace agreement, and then deploy OSCE peacekeeping forces in the region. The last joint statement of the co-chairs was dated December 7, 2021. Since 2022, the group has been de facto inactive.
The diplomat recalled that the Russian Federation, along with other OSCE members, took direct part in making this decision based on the consensus rule. "We consider this step justified, justified in view of the fundamental changes in the situation in the region," TASS quotes Zakharova as saying.
"The initiative to curtail the Minsk institutions belongs to Armenia and Azerbaijan. The foreign ministers of these states addressed the OSCE with a corresponding proposal on August 11, thereby confirming that Baku and Yerevan no longer need the tools of the Minsk process. Let me remind you that throughout the entire period of the Minsk Group's work, the Russian co-chairmanship has made every effort to solve the tasks set in the interests of reconciling the friendly peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia," Zakharova recalled.
The OSCE Minsk process was launched in 1992 to resolve the Karabakh conflict, its main element was the Minsk Group, co-chaired by Russia, the United States and France.
On the closure of the OSCE MG
On September 1, 2025, it became known that the OSCE officially closed the OSCE Minsk Group on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (created in 1992) and related structures, following a joint appeal by Armenia and Azerbaijan. This decision of the Council of Ministers of the Organization was welcomed by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu.
The OSCE is scheduled to complete the procedures related to the completion of the Minsk process no later than December 1, 2025; only administrative functions, such as the transfer of property and equipment, will continue.
The OSCE Minsk Group operated under the co-chairmanship of Russia, the United States and France; permanent members are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Finland, Sweden. The group's tasks were to ensure negotiations between Baku and Yerevan, help them conclude a peace agreement, and then deploy OSCE peacekeeping forces in the region. The last joint statement of the co-chairs was dated December 7, 2021. Since 2022, the group has been de facto inactive.
