Russian President Vladimir Putin, during an interview yesterday evening on Russia 24 TV, stated that the issue of the status of Nagorno Karabakh will be decided in the future and that the current status quo is maintained.

"Yes, there is such an issue. The final status of Karabakh is not settled. We have agreed to maintain the status quo that exists today, and we will decide what will happen in the future," Putin said.

According to Putin, if conditions for normal life are created, grounds are created for the restoration of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, then a basis will be created for determining the status of Nagorno Karabakh.

Putin also noted that the issue of non-recognition of Nagorno Karabakh, including by Armenia, has left a significant mark on the course of events.

"Whether or not to recognize Karabakh as an independent state can be assessed in different ways, but it was undoubtedly a significant factor, including during the just, I hope, bloody conflict that has just ended. The fact of non-recognition of Karabakh, including by Armenia, has left a significant mark on the course of events and their perception," Putin said.

"It is necessary to speak directly. At a time when Georgia's former criminal leadership was attacking our peacekeepers in South Ossetia, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We have recognized the just will of the people of Crimea, their desire to reunite with Russia. Some may like it, some may not, but we did it in the interests of the people who live there, in the interests of all of Russia," he said.

According to Putin, the most important point of the agreements on Nagorno Karabakh was the cessation of bloodshed, but the document provides a good basis for a long-term settlement of the situation.

He noted that according to official data, more than 4,000 people were killed during the hostilities, but the real number, according to Putin, is higher, emphasizing that the number of wounded is tens of thousands.

 "This is not a movie, it is a tragedy that happens to specific people, to specific families, so stopping the bloodshed is the main result," Putin said.

According to Putin, the document envisages unblocking all transport communications and restoring economic ties.

The Russian President also noted that the war in Karabakh could have been avoided if the proposals for the settlement of the situation, which were developed in 2013, had been accepted.

"In 2013, within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia formulated conditions with which all members of the Minsk Group, including the co-chairs Russia, France and the United States, agreed and supported."

He recalled the provisions underlying the proposals: the return of the 5 regions under Armenian control, then the return of the two regions, the creation of a corridor that would unite Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, the recognition of the Karabakh status quo without strengthening its final status, the return of refugees from both sides.

"I think that would be the solution. Unfortunately, we have approached the final solution several times. In my opinion, if we had succeeded in that, we would have reached an agreement, there would not have been a war. And I'm sure of that now," Putin said.

Putin is sure that Armenia's withdrawal from the agreements would be "suicide" - a big mistake.

"It would be suicide. It is the job of each party to follow or not to follow the agreements reached, but it would be a big mistake. I hope it will not happen," Putin said.

According to Putin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the whole truth about the difficult situation on the battlefield.

"The situation was difficult, just as Pashinyan said, I have nothing to add," said the Russian president.

Touching upon the internal political situation in Armenia, the demands of Pashinyan's resignation, Putin noted that Armenia is a sovereign country, it must settle its problems independently.

"But I can say my opinion. In a state of war, the country cannot afford to behave in such a way that the society is divided from within. "It is inadmissible and dangerous," Putin said.

Speaking about his relations with Pashinyan, Putin noted that he has never been in favor of resolving political issues “on the street”, but despite this, he has always had good relations with Nikol Pashinyan, who became the leader of Armenia.

"I have always spoken openly that I do not accept solving problems through the street. But it did not reflect on my and Pashinyan's relations. We have positive, reliable and constructive relations. I do not hide that I also had good relations with the former authorities of Armenia. Besides, there is a question not only of the leadership, but also of the relations between the peoples. The Armenian-Russian peoples have always had friendly relations," Putin said.

Putin also said the allegations that Pashinyan is a traitor are groundless.

"Calling Pashinyan a traitor has no grounds at all. "It is another matter whether he did the right thing or not, but the accusations of treason are baseless," said the Russian president.

Putin said that in October he had persuaded Ilham Ali to cease hostilities on the condition that the refugees return to Shushi, but that the city remain under the control of Armenian forces.

"In October, I persuaded Ali to stop the hostilities in Karabakh on the condition of returning the refugees to Shushi, but Armenia was against it. Unexpectedly, Pashinyan said that it was unacceptable," Putin said.

Putin also answered the question why the CSTO did not intervene in the Karabakh conflict. "According to international law, Karabakh has always been an integral part of Azerbaijan, the CSTO could not intervene, and no one attacked Armenia," Putin said.