US State Department Advises Citizens Against Traveling to Armenia and Azerbaijan

The US State Department advised its citizens on May 18 to refrain from traveling to Armenia and Azerbaijan. The reasons specified in the advisory regarding Armenia indicate that it is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the COVID-19 level in Armenia is rated as Tier 4, which is the highest level according to the center. There are restrictions that affect the entry of US citizens into Armenia. Travelers are advised not to visit the Nagorno-Karabakh region and surrounding areas due to recent military actions. The US government is unable to provide emergency services to US citizens in Nagorno-Karabakh and its vicinity because access to the area is restricted.

Moreover, travelers should be cautious of the roads near the border with Azerbaijan, as these roads may be controlled by checkpoints or closed to travelers without prior notice,” the State Department's statement read.

It is noteworthy that in recent days, there has not been an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Armenia, especially when compared to the recent trend of infection rates in the country, which actually shows a tendency for the spread to decrease.

“In the last month, we have already been closing COVID-19 centers, indicating a decrease in the spread of the infection,” said Hripsime Khachatryan, spokesperson for the Minister of Health, in an interview with Auroranews.

The timing of this statement from the US State Department is significant, coinciding with heightened tensions at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. It is worth recalling that prior to September 27, the US embassy in Armenia had warned its citizens against traveling to Karabakh and Tavush.