Russia urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to schedule next “3+3” meeting

The next meeting within the framework of the "3+3" regional cooperation platform should be held in Baku or Yerevan, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

Speaking at a briefing on November 20, she recalled that the last meeting of foreign ministers in this format was held in Istanbul in October 2024, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"We hope that our Azerbaijani and Armenian partners will quickly determine the rotation of this meeting — who will host the event this year and who will host it next year. For our part, we will support the decision of our colleagues. This year, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides have repeatedly held bilateral meetings. In Abu Dhabi, Washington and Dushanbe. Such direct contacts will also help resolve the well-known issue," the spokesperson noted.

Zakharova also addressed a separate diplomatic issue, announcing that Russia has formally requested an explanation from Armenian authorities over the ban on military journalist Dmitry Seleznev entering the country. 

She emphasised that Armenia, “which presents itself as a democratic state, should act consistently with democratic principles”, and expressed hope that the restrictions were not related to Seleznev’s journalistic activities.

The spokesperson highlighted discrepancies between Armenia’s declared commitment to freedom of speech and transparency and the restrictions imposed on Seleznev. She noted that Russia has not received information regarding the duration of the ban, any potential charges, or the appeals process.

Earlier, Seleznev, a military correspondent for the WarGonzo project, was detained for three hours at Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan. 

After passing through passport control, he was escorted to a separate room, and the border guards later informed him that he was banned from entering Armenia, prompting him to purchase a ticket for the next flight to St. Petersburg.

By Sabina Mammadli