MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has criticized the European Union’s (EU) role in the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. She asserted that the Western actions are unrelated to the genuine efforts for reconciliation.
Zakharova’s comments were made in response to the inclusion and subsequent removal of Azerbaijan and Armenia from the EU’s list of countries supporting the extension of the European Magnitsky List.
Addressing the situation during a weekly briefing, Zakharova expressed bewilderment at the sudden appearance and disappearance of Azerbaijan and Armenia from the list. She suggested that the EU’s efforts to impose anti-Russian restrictions under the guise of human rights sanctions were “empty, unconstructive, and futile.” The Russian spokeswoman emphasized that unilateral restrictive measures taken by the EU, bypassing the UN Security Council, constitute a serious violation of international law.
Neocolonial Thinking and Anti-Russian Stance Accusations
Zakharova pointed to the incident as a vivid example of what she termed “neocolonial thinking” in Brussels’ policy. She argued that the EU’s involvement in the region does not aim at settling and normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan or addressing the consequences of the longstanding crisis. Instead, she asserted that the EU’s primary objective appears to be taking an anti-Russian stance.
“The only goal and objective is in no way related to the settlement and normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the settlement of the consequences of the long crisis. And this is only a desire to once again take some anti-Russian stance,” Zakharova stated.
According to Zakharova, the EU’s attempt to influence Russia’s neighbors and compel them to adopt a sanctioned, anti-Russian course reflects a broader agenda. She accused the EU of resorting to outright forgery, suggesting that the actions taken by Brussels are driven by a desire to confront Russia.
