Patriarch Kiril of Moscow and All Russia has called on extending the ceasefire regime in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and has called on the religious leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to help stop the bloodshed.

“I call on the leaderships of the two countries to use the ceasefire to provide a political solution to the issue. For the sake of the future of the two neighboring peoples, I call on extending the ceasefire regime and using it for peaceful negotiations,” Patriarch Kiril said, addressing Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Allahshukur Pashazadeh.

“My dear brothers, we have come a long way, working hard to make sure this conflict doesn’t turn into an interreligious conflict and to make sure the problems are solved peacefully. Today, each of us has to do everything possible to stop the bloodshed. Armenia and Azerbaijan have historically been and will be neighbors, and in any case, the Armenians and Azerbaijanis will live side-by-side,” Patriarch Kiril concluded.