Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will pay an official visit to Moscow on March 6-7, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a regular briefing in Moscow.

According to Zakharova, the visit will take place at the official invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. “During the visit, Mammadyarov will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, deputy chairman of the Federation Council Ilyas Umakhanov. Mammadyarov also will speak at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry.”

Zakharova also commented on the arrest of blogger Alexander Lapshin. According to Zakharova, preparations for the trial have got underway. She pointed out that employees of the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan have met with Lapshin. "He does not complain about the conditions. Our embassy is in constant contact with his lawyer and relatives, as well as the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and the Embassy of Israel. We will inform the public as information becomes available, " said Zakharova.

Farida Abdullayeva
Special Correspondent