The talks took place in three European cities and while each side acknowledged that the other had taken care to listen, neither side appeared ready to give any ground on matters of fundamental importance to the other.

The recurring financial dispute could have political repercussions as well for the country’s pro-Western government as it grapples with the geopolitical realities of being dependent on Russia to keep its 2.5 million people warm.

A day of clashes on the border separating Armenia’s eastern Gegharkunik province and Azerbaijan’s Kalbacar district left three Armenian servicemen and one Azeri dead.

The talks in Brussels were the first meeting of any sort for more than two years within the Russia-NATO Council.

Tokayev also named a new prime minister and announced measures to instil public confidence in state institutions.

After eight hours of talks in Geneva, neither side appeared to give any ground. But both expressed willingness to keep talking.

The project was launched in the aftermath of last year’s unprecedented mass protests which clearly jolted Lukashenko after his disputed re-election to a sixth term and the widespread, and often brutal, use of security forces and the courts to crush dissent.

The U.S. embassy said the parliamentary vote doing away with the office of the State Inspector General undermined Georgia’s efforts to build durable, transparent democratic institutions.

A total of 7,939 people have been detained in connection with the unrest, Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry said. Tokayev said a death toll, including civilian casualties, was being established.