The renewed violence coincided with efforts to resolve two issues hindering a durable peace between the neighbours – demarcation of the border and an agreement on allowing free transit for Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan.

The Energy Ministry said that oil production was still below 718,000 bpd produced in October 2018, when members of OPEC+ agreed to reduce oil production gradually.

Oil and gas condensate production declined 0.3 percent from January to October from a year earlier to 28.8 million tonnes, while natural gas output increased 17 percent to 35.8 bcm.

“In most cases, we are criticised for nothing, but our opponents are silent about our achievements.”

Fitch forecasts Azerbaijan's gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4.9 percent in 2021, following last year's 4.3 percent contraction.