Aram Orbelyan, former Deputy Minister of Justice and constitutional law expert, has expressed concern over the decision by the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group and its associated structures. The agreement was signed in Washington on August 8, with the dissolution process beginning on September 1 and set to conclude by December 2025.
Speaking to Sputnik Armenia, Orbelyan stated that “the dissolution of the Minsk Group cannot be seen as positive in any way,” emphasizing that it delivers a serious blow to the prospects of a resolution favorable to Armenians on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.
He reminded that numerous international documents have addressed the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh’s status, including discussions held within the Minsk Group framework. These documents, he said, clearly outline how the legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh and the rights of its Armenian population should be protected.
“This issue could still be resolved through a future referendum or other mechanisms, including postponement of status discussions. But the status question remains essential. If the Armenian authorities abandon the defense of these rights—such as the right of return or group rights—then no international organization is likely to take up the issue in the future,” he warned.
Orbelyan argued that Azerbaijan is deliberately trying to close the Nagorno-Karabakh file by removing it from the international agenda and redirecting focus to the issue of Zangezur. In his view, Armenia has effectively conceded to this strategy.
“I say Zangezur, not just Syunik Province, because the issue concerns a broader territory—Syunik, Vayots Dzor, and parts of Gegharkunik,” he said.
He insisted that dissolving the Minsk Group now is premature and damaging, especially given that the Washington peace agreement is only in the pre-signature stage and has not been fully finalized. Azerbaijan continues to impose additional demands and has not agreed to sign the final version.
While the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Secretary General have welcomed the decision to dissolve the Minsk Group, Orbelyan believes such an announcement should have only been made once a fully signed peace agreement was in place and all remaining issues had been settled.
He criticized Armenia’s current leadership for adopting what he described as a “peace at any cost” strategy that effectively excludes the Armenian state and people.
“We will have peace, but there will be no Republic of Armenia or Armenians in that peace. Armenia must revise its stance. That will only happen if there is a rational government, along with restored internal institutions and state structures. Only then can a policy be developed that advances a pro-Armenian agenda,” Orbelyan said.
The OSCE Minsk Group was established in 1992 under the co-chairmanship of Russia, France, and the U.S. In April 2022, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Washington and Paris had ceased cooperation with Moscow and would no longer participate in the group’s activities.
