The statement by Deputy Head of Azerbaijan’s Presidential staff Novruz Mammadov is Azerbaijan’s attempt to interpret the reached agreements in its own way, Maria Zakharova, an official representative of Russia’s foreign office, told a press briefing on Thursday.

Talking to Azerbaijani TV channels on Wednesday, Mr Mammadov stated that agreements on a phased settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were reached at the Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russia presidential meeting in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

“The meeting prioritized a phased settlement of the conflict. That is, the conflict has to be settled stage by stage – vacation of five Azerbaijani regions and, later, two other regions, and deciding on a corridor. Thereafter, determination of Nagorno-Karabakh’s status. In this respect, the sides have reached an agreement in principle,” Mr Mammadov said.

She called for following the original statement approved at the trilateral presidential meeting in Saint Petersburg.

As to all other statements, Ms Zakharova called them “very dishonest, with attempted interpretation of the meeting results.”

“A specific statement was read out, and it is an official document that should be taken as a basis, not someone’s loose interpretations,” Ms Zakharova said.