The Minsk Group – the Test and Collapse of the Mediation Format in Conflict Resolution

Abstract. International mediation formats created to resolve armed conflicts often reflect the era in which they were formed. The article explores the historical trajectory, internal contradictions, and ultimate failure of the OSCE Minsk Group as a mediation mechanism in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The aim of the study is to identify the systemic causes behind the collapse of this long-standing negotiation format and to assess its impact on the architecture of regional conflict resolution. The study utilizes a historical and political analysis, allowing the Minsk Group to be viewed within the context of political processes and international agreements; a comparative method, allowing its activities to be compared with those of other mediation formats (Kosovo, Transnistria, Bosnia and Herzegovina); and a documentary analysis based on official communiqués and OSCE reports. This methodological approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the internal logic of the format's functioning and the factors behind its decline.The results reveal that the Minsk Group gradually lost credibility due to geopolitical rivalry among the co-chair states, asymmetry in the approach to the conflicting parties, and the absence of enforcement mechanisms. The study demonstrates how the group’s formal neutrality evolved into political inertia, preventing real progress in peacebuilding. The conclusions emphasize that the demise of the Minsk Group symbolizes the exhaustion of traditional multilateral mediation models in post-bipolar conflicts, highlighting the need for new regionally anchored formats of diplomacy based on realistic balance of power and inclusivity. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of institutional decline in international mediation and provides insights for rethinking global peace processes.