All of Artsakh is Now Deprived of Gas: Deputy Comments on the Situation

Negotiations held with the Azerbaijani side regarding the damaged gas pipeline in Artsakh did not yield results, according to Davit Galstyan, head of the "Justice" faction in the Artsakh National Assembly, in an interview with 24News.

On the morning of March 8 at 09:47, the Artsakh Gas Company issued a statement indicating that an accident occurred around 01:00, damaging the main gas pipeline. The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Artsakh announced that the Armenia-Artsakh gas pipeline was damaged, and the Azerbaijani side is preventing repair work from starting. Negotiations, mediated by Russian peacekeepers, are underway for the next day to begin the activities.

Now, the entire Artsakh is deprived of gas. Deputy Davit Galstyan stated that yesterday's negotiations yielded no results, and repair work has not started. "We cannot get close; explosions have been heard in the city, but it is unclear whether the Azerbaijanis caused the explosions. This is another provocation from Azerbaijan; they are not allowing us to approach and begin repairs on the gas pipeline. Their obstruction logically leads us to think they organized the accident themselves. This is not the first instance; similar problems have arisen with electricity, as well as with agricultural activities, where gunfire is directed towards Khramort every time. Azerbaijan takes every opportunity to put the Armenian population of Artsakh in trouble," he emphasized.

Galstyan noted that the damaged section is in the part of Shushi that is under Azerbaijani control, in the territory of the Shushi-Zariflu settlement. "Today, according to my information, the Russian side has blocked the movement of the Azerbaijani side through the corridor and the roads under the control of Artsakh to start negotiations again. I don’t have detailed information regarding the negotiations," he added.

Regarding alternative routes for the gas pipeline, the deputy stated that it is associated with significant expenses. "I cannot imagine any segment that would be inaccessible to Azerbaijanis." For Galstyan, the silence of the Artsakh and Armenian authorities is also concerning. "Our authorities, the authorities of Armenia, are not taking any condemnatory action; they do not condemn that Azerbaijan is obstructing and not allowing the gas pipeline to be repaired," he concluded.

Earlier, in an interview with AuroraNews, the head of the Information and Public Relations Department of the State Emergency Service of the Republic of Artsakh, Hunan Tadevosyan, said, "Negotiations have been held; our sappers have already gone to the place where there is a gas leak to carry out reconnaissance work so that the servicing personnel can go and perform recovery operations. The gas pipeline was damaged in the Shushi-Lisagor-Berdzor section."