EU Issues Statement on Gas Supply Disruption in Stepanakert

The European Union has expressed its concern regarding the renewed interruption of gas supply in Artsakh, calling for the resumption of gas services. This was stated by EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano on his Twitter account.

“The EU is concerned about the renewed disconnection of gas supply to Stepanakert. It is urgently necessary to restore supply to the affected local population,” Stano wrote.

He emphasized that the EU urges the authorities in control to allow this, especially under the current weather conditions.

The gas supply in the Republic of Artsakh was interrupted on the night of March 7-8 due to damage to the gas pipeline. The Azerbaijani side did not allow the Armenian side or Russian peacekeepers to approach the pipeline to restore gas supply. Subsequently, through negotiations facilitated by the Armenian government and supported by Russian peacekeepers, the Azerbaijani side carried out repairs to the damaged pipeline. Artsakh authorities later announced that gas supply had been interrupted again on March 21 due to Azerbaijani interventions. Officials from Artsakh have claimed that there are sufficient grounds to assert that during the repair works on the pipeline that was blown up on March 8, the Azerbaijani side installed a valve that has been used to stop the gas supply.