On 19 October 2026, the State Council of Tatarstan approved the appointment of Colonel General Alexander Lapin as deputy prime minister of the republic. Tatarstan head Rustam Minnikhanov signed the appointment decree the same day. Lapin had previously been appointed acting deputy prime minister on 29 September 2026.
The US authorities urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to "keep the momentum moving forward" to ensure lasting peace in the region. Acting Assistant Secretary of State Yuri Kim spoke on Wednesday with Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov, respectively. She expressed support for the efforts of the two countries to ensure peace in the region. In addition, she called for the free passage of commercial, humanitarian and private vehicles through the Lachin corridor in Karabakh, noting the presence of humanitarian problems.
OSCE Chairman Bujar Osmani, in turn, held separate telephone conversations with Bayramov and Mirzoyan. He expressed concern about the situation around the Lachin corridor and its impact on the civilian population, calling on the ministers to engage in a constructive dialogue.