Russian political scientist Stanislav Tarasov made a sensational statement in the Armenian media. Commenting on the last meeting of President Ilham Aliyev with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Russian political analyst told publication 168 ZHAM that in June 2019 Armenia would have to cede several districts to Azerbaijan.

'Despite the assertions that the details are not being discussed, we are adults and are well aware that if there is no specific subject for conversation, then there is nothing to talk about. In recent months, this process - meetings that last for hours - show that serious discussions are taking place, there is bargaining going on around a specific project, it is on the negotiating table,' states Stanislav Tarasov.

'It is striking that Aliyev was very happy, and Pashinyan was depressed, because Aliyev was winning this game. They are currently talking about trust mechanisms. In June, Pashinyan and Aliyev will sign an agreement on Karabakh, in which the Armenian side will be forced to cede several districts through indirect compromises,' Tarasov said.

According to the political scientist, this will be followed by the Turkish parliament returning to the Armenian-Turkish protocols and their ratification, diplomatic relations will be restored, a package draft settlement will appear.

'Azerbaijan declares that it needs to return part of the districts, it speaks openly about it, but what Armenia is going to do is not clear; the Armenian side is silent. However, if the Armenian side was not talking about it with the Azerbaijani side, Aliyev would never have communicated with Pashinyan in such a way, by would have threatened war and spoke the language of ultimatums,' said Tarasov.