Russian MFA labels EU as provocateur in the region

The European Union has brought discredit upon itself as a mediator not only in the Balkans but also in the situation with Armenia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"They promised more than they could do. However, they did nothing but provocations, which led to the explosive situation. It could and should have been solved in a legal, political way, taking into account all the historical peculiarities of the situation," Zakharova said, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

"It was the West - the US and the EU - that dissuaded Armenia from the path of implementing the agreements reached through Russian mediation. Brussels was one of the first to declare that it is not necessary to fulfil everything that Moscow, Yerevan and Baku agreed on, but to follow a special path. Unfortunately, we now see where this special path led," Zakharova said.

Brussels, according to Zakharova, has become a provocateur in the region. European observers did not come under fire or die tragically, they only set fires, as only they know how to do, she added.

Zakharova believes that the EU mission in Armenia does not ensure any de-escalation, but only fulfils intelligence functions and is engaged in provoking the situation.