Russia blames ally Armenia for breakdown in talks with Azerbaijan

Russia on Thursday blamed Armenia for a breakdown in peace talks with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, in the latest sign of friction between allies Moscow and Yerevan over the conflict.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have for months been in talks to broker a peace deal over Nagorno-Karabakh – a breakaway enclave internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but home to a mainly Armenian population.
For the past month, Azeris claiming to be environmental activists have blocked transport along the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia in what Yerevan has called a government-endorsed blockade. Baku says the protesters have legitimate concerns over illegal Armenian mining, and have denied that the region is under blockade.
In a statement on Thursday, Russia blamed Armenia for cancelling peace talks between the two sides and called on Yerevan to come back to the negotiating table.