Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has criticized a statement made yesterday by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accusing Yerevan of “sabotaging” prior agreements to unblock transportation arteries in Armenia’s Syunik Province.

Lavrov, without providing specifics, said the Armenian government is to blame for the delay in implementing this clause of the 2020 ceasefire agreement signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia.

"We are in favor of the early conclusion of the peace treaty and the unblocking of communications. Unfortunately, it is the Armenian leadership that is sabotaging the agreement signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding communication through the Syunik region of Armenia. It is difficult to understand the meaning of such a position," Lavrov told Russia's First Channel during Vladimir Putin’s visit to Baku this week.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry described Lavro’s comments as “biased”, "false" and “regrettable”, adding they call into question Russia’s constructive engagement in talks to normalize relations between Yerevan and Baku.

The ministry added that the Armenian government’s Crossroads of Peace initiative, designed to open regional links, can be implemented at any moment.

It called on Moscow to refrain from such "biased statements".

(The Crossroads of Peace project envisages achieving peace in the South Caucasus and the greater region through open borders and where the countries are linked via roads, railways, pipelines and electricity grids.)

Photo: Armenian Foreighn Ministry Spokesperson Ani Badalyan