Russia and the Karabakh Conflict – 2018: Page 5 of 6

by the Kremlin is understandable: it is a good way to limit Pashinyan's legitimacy and independence. I am sure that over Moscow will realize that a change of elite is inevitable in Armenia and that they must get used to working with young leaders oriented toward national interests and ready to cooperate with Russia equitably.

Vadim Mukhanov - The Karabakh conflict unlike all the others in the Caucasus is the only platform where the unity of the interests of the three co-chairing countries is manifested or can be felt. However, in the recent years the Minsk Group has rarely taken the initiative for creating or proposing a new agenda, organizing new meetings and putting forth proposals, that is to say we can rather observe the response of the Minsk Group to certain events, especially, escalations. This is not enough, and it is already becoming obvious. It should be about taking the initiative and putting pressure on the parties who do not want to do anything on their own. The situation resembles a situation with schoolchildren where two quarreled boys are seated at different ends of the class, and until the teacher or mentor takes them by the hands and leads them to each other, they will not take a single step to meet each other halfway.

Stepan Grigoryan - As to the perception of Russia in Azerbaijan within the context of the Karabakh conflict, it seems to me that the dominant point there is that the resolution of the conflict depends on Russia. And if Russia "presses" on Armenia, it will make concessions. Of course, Russia could put pressure on Serzh Sargsyan, but there is also an Armenian society, people living in Karabakh, and I do not think that everything was that easy. But there is such a stereotype in Azerbaijan, both in the government and the society as a whole.

Emin Ahmedbekov - In Azerbaijan they also faced social indifference even to the Karabakh issue. Thanks to the dictatorship, today’s society cannot influence any processes in the country. The people are intimidated by imprisonment and repressions. This is the propaganda of the authorities in the country. But part of the society understands and realizes that we – the two peoples – will resolve the conflict by ourselves.

ON THE POTENTIAL OUTCOME OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

On the capacity of the parties to the conflict

Emin Ahmedbekov - (with the perception of the outcomes as a result of the military solution) - The conflict is frozen, and in this form, it is beneficial to everyone, both the Azerbaijani and Armenian leadership. The leadership of Azerbaijan has an obligation before its partners in the sales transactions of energy resources. A lot of money is at stake.

Stepan Grigoryan – Negotiations over Karabakh were interrupted in the past five years. Now no one remembers the Madrid principles. And taking into account the fact that Ilham Aliyev makes tough statements about both Karabakh and Armenia (it turns out that Yerevan too is already Azerbaijani), it's hard to imagine what Serzh Sargsyan could offer. Moreover, since