“Demanding the establishment of a safe, unobstructed, and unchecked corridor to Nakhchivan is Azerbaijan's right. This corridor, exclusively within Azerbaijan's boundaries, leaves Armenia with no alternative. Failing to comply would leave Armenia in deadlock, while Azerbaijan is poised to successfully open the Zangazur corridor under any circumstances,” the Russian political experts said those opinions in their interview with Paralel.Az.

“Armenia has fear of losing Zangazur, acknowledging that this territory historically belonged to Azerbaijan."

Sergey Markov, the Director of the Institute for Political Studies, and a well-known political scientist considers that demanding the establishment of a safe and unobstructed corridor without customs inspection from Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan through Zangazur is Azerbaijan's right:

“Because this corridor will be from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan and the citizens and products of Azerbaijan should pass through this corridor without customs inspection of the foreign state. This aligns with common international practices where similar "crossing" corridors exist between many countries worldwide. Such a corridor used to exist between the Kaliningrad region and Russia until the Ukrainian conflict. Russian citizens and cargo were passing through from the territory of Lithuania, which is a NATO and European Union member state, to Kaliningrad without customs formalization. Therefore, I think that this is Azerbaijan’s principal position and I’m sure that most of the world countries understand this position. But Armenia does not want to give Azerbaijan such an opportunity. That’s why it continues its logic of “battling” with Azerbaijan. Armenia is afraid that the extraterritorial status of the Zangazur Corridor will ultimately result in the loss of Zangazur territory. Because this territory used to belong to Azerbaijan back then."

“Armenia's strategy of opposing the Zangazur Corridor is doomed to failure just like its Garabagh strategy"

Russian political scientist believe that Armenia violates the provision of the tripartite Statement dated November 10, 2020, on the protection of the Zangazur corridor by Russian border guards: “According to that agreement, Russian border guards have to ensure the security of the corridor that will connect the western regions of Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan. Armenia continues its policy of emissions from Russia. Most likely, Yerevan wishes that the border guards of France, the European Union, or NATO - Russia's enemies, would stand in that territory. This, of course, means a gross violation of the tripartite statement."

"Armenia, as well, wants to use the Zangazur corridor problem as a pressure lever to solve its problems. I think that Yerevan’s desire will also fail. This is the continuation of the strategy conducted by Armenia regarding Garabagh for several decades, which, that strategy resulted in a total failure. For decades, Armenia thought that Russia would enter into conflict with Azerbaijan for Garabagh. But now, Yerevan thinks that the U.S., France, and the European Union will enter into a conflict with Azerbaijan instead of Armenia and will solve the Armenian problem within the framework of Armenian interests. I think that Armenia’s strategy as well is doomed to failure,” Markov concluded.

“Armenia has no alternative except the Zangazur corridor, otherwise it will remain in deadlock”

Russian polytechnic Yevgeniy Mikhailov believes that Azerbaijan will successfully secure the opening of the Zangazur corridor under any circumstances: “I believe Baku is right in establishing a check-free transport corridor from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan. Moreover, on November 10, 2020, fearing to lose its subjectivity, Armenia sat down at the negotiating table and signed a tripartite agreement, taking responsibility for the creation of this corridor. Now it’s surprising that Armenia is going back on its word. However, Russia and Azerbaijan, who know Armenian politics well, are not surprised by Yerevan’s move. I think that both Moscow and Baku assumed in advance that this would happen. However, in all cases, Armenia has no other choice. Otherwise, Armenia will remain at a dead end. Azerbaijan will be able to open the Zangazur corridor in all cases. Armenia, in principle, will not be able to reach what it calls the “crossroads of the world.” Armenia is scaring the world community with the fact that Azerbaijan allegedly wants to seize the Zangazur corridor by force. This is the eternal practice of Armenia - to complain to everyone, we, the poor, are being discriminated against, save us! This is not a way out of the situation. Baku proposes to open the Zangazur corridor. This proposal is much better than the Armenian “crossroads of the world” proposal supported by the French

“If it continues Armenia will lose its statehood”

According to Mikhailov, France today is a strong obstacle to peace in the South Caucasus. The expert believes that Armenia’s reluctance for Russian border guards to guard the Zangazur corridor is the desire of France: “Russia protects the security of all borders of Armenia. Therefore, Armenia’s reluctance for Russian border guards to ensure the security of the corridor connecting Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan is ridiculous. This is, first of all, a political game. Russia has leverage over Armenia. But we always deal peacefully. Russia hopes that to resolve this issue, Armenia will not have to use force or exert economic pressure. Official Yerevan will find the strength to fulfill its obligation and keep its promise. But I will not be surprised if Armenia opposes the settlement of peace in the South Caucasus. Then Armenia will have to be seriously dealt with. I always say that if this continues, then Armenia will completely lose its subjectivity as a state. Apparently, they want it. It seems they have not matured as a state. As long as there is a chance to reach an agreement, we must agree."

The Russian expert also touched upon the prospects for signing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan: “If we talk about a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan, then, in principle, there will not be a peace treaty for many years until the issue with the Zangazur corridor is resolved.”