Armenian and Russian Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Sergei Lavrov met in Moscow.

During the briefing, the issue of illegally held captives in Azerbaijan was also touched upon.

Lavrov stressed that in a trilateral statement, Azerbaijan undertook to return the prisoners captured by 9 November.

“During his contacts with Aliyev, the Russian President sends a signal, calls for the release of all prisoners without any preconditions, as it would be a significant humanitarian step. We will continue to act from these positions, but the final decision does not depend on us,” Lavrov said.

Mirzoyan noted that Armenia has long fulfilled the points of the trilateral statement and returned the citizens of Azerbaijan detained in Armenia.

“Azerbaijan, on its part, must return all Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees not only to fulfill their obligations, but also to create an atmosphere of mutual trust,” he said.

The Armenian Foreign Minister stated that he was ready to meet with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister for talks.

Lavrov added, “As for the meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides, it is better in this case to address the issue to the Armenian side and Azerbaijan. As for our position, we are fully committed to the documents adopted by our leaders in tripartite terms on 9 November, 2020 and 11 January of this year. Now I proceed from the fact that it is not about resuming the process, it is about doing everything that has already been signed. And first of all, it is necessary to ensure reliable security and, of course, to start restoring trust. The tripartite commission at the level of deputy prime ministers on the unblocking of transport infrastructure and economic ties plays an important role here. It will be a very powerful way to give the parties a more constructive approach to what is happening. And, of course, it is necessary to seriously change the rhetoric sounding from both sides. It will create conditions for a final and complete settlement,” Lavrov said.