No crucial breakthrough in the Karabakh peace process is expected in the near future, said Russian political expert Maksim Minayev.

Basic principles for the conflict settlement are being discussed but most likely it is so-called road map providing for further consultations, not more, the expert told Day.az.

According to the expert, if the parties come to any agreement in the near future the peace process will intensify first of all in trilateral Moscow - Baku - Yerevan and without the participation of the OSCE Minsk Group, or its limited participation.  

“The settlement has no rapid solution, even with active intervention of external actors,” Minayev said adding that peace process will be protracted.

As regards the format of the negotiation process, he noted that all the talks under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group are а formality because in fact Moscow is pulling the strings.