Kremlin says it is concerned that Karabakh tensions increasing, not easing

The Kremlin said on Thursday that it was concerned that tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh were increasing rather than subsiding and it appealed to both countries to show restraint.

In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would remain in contact with both Yerevan and Baku, adding that Moscow would remain a reliable guarantor of security in the South Caucasus.

Armenia has in recent weeks repeatedly accused Azerbaijan of massing forces around Karabakh, which Baku has effectively blockaded since December 2022, causing acute hunger in the region. A deal struck to unblock roads to the territory last weekend has yet to take full effect.