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"Russia's official denial of Nikol's lie is yet another blow to the international standing of Armenia," former Armenian Ambassador to the Holy See Mikayel Minasyan said on Telegram, referring to Wednesday’s interview of former Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Popov in the wake of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's article on the origins of the 44-day war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

“Azerbaijan, in turn, continued to declare that no status of Nagorno-Karabakh outside of Azerbaijan could be discussed, and after the appearance of the Russian proposals, Azerbaijan toughened its position: no status of Nagorno-Karabakh can be discussed at this stage,” Pashinyan said in the article.

Igor Popov stated in the interview that Russia has never said the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement must be confined to the return of seven districts of the region to Azerbaijan without taking care of its status.

"Claims to the effect Russia called for returning seven districts ‘in exchange for nothing’ and forgetting about its status have nothing to do with the reality," the diplomat said.

Mikayel Minasyan believes the premier had to blame someone for failing to receive positive outcomes from the January 11 trilateral talks in Moscow.

“According to the plan, now Russia is to blame for everything. Nikol, who personally coordinates anti-Russian sentiments in Armenia, has set two goals. First, he seeks to replace anti-Nicholism with Russophobia, making Russia the main culprit.

“Second, he is clearing the way for geopolitical maneuvers, which threatens to become a final disaster for Armenians and Armenia," he said.