Moscow calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to refrain from further escalation

Russia urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to abstain from escalating the tensions any further, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website on Tuesday.

"We are urging the sides to abstain from a further escalation of tensions, to exercise restraint and to strictly comply with the ceasefire commitment, consistent with the trilateral statements signed by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021," the ministry said.

Russia "is in close contact with both Baku and Azerbaijan," it said.

"A request made by the Armenian leadership for assisting in the settlement of the situation in accordance with the bilateral agreements and within the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization] has been received," the ministry said.

"Hopefully, the agreement to cease fire from 9 a.m. Moscow time on September 13 of this year, which has been achieved with Russian mediation, will be fully honored," it said.