Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Issues Statement on Azerbaijani Provocation in the Lachin Corridor

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has issued a statement regarding the Azerbaijani provocation in the Lachin Corridor, which we present below:

“On the morning of December 12, 2022, a group from the Republic of Azerbaijan, presenting themselves as environmental activists, set up tents near Shushi, blocking the normal and unhindered movement in the Lachin Corridor. This corridor was established by the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the President of the Russian Federation to ensure the connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.

The propagandistic preparations to close the Lachin Corridor had started months ago, and it is evident that this provocation has been organized by Azerbaijani state bodies aiming to cut Nagorno-Karabakh off from the Republic of Armenia and thus from the outside world.

As a result of this action, the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh have been deprived of their right to free movement, and Nagorno-Karabakh is facing an imminent danger of food and humanitarian crisis.

The current situation is in direct contradiction to Article 6 of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, which states that a) the Lachin Corridor is under the control of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, and b) the Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees the safety of citizens, vehicles, and cargo traveling through the Lachin Corridor.

Thus, Azerbaijan is grossly violating its international obligations. This behavior not only makes it evident that it has no intention of addressing the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and engaging in dialogue with Stepanakert for this purpose, but it also once again demonstrates the ongoing policy of official Baku to subject Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing.

The blockade of the Lachin Corridor is a practical manifestation of numerous alarms that Azerbaijan has adopted a policy of genocide against the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Frequent violations of the ceasefire regime by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces along the contact line make the existential threat to the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh even more tangible.

We emphasize that the unwavering fulfillment of international obligations, including those undertaken by the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, the renunciation of the use of force or the threat of force, strict adherence to the ceasefire regime, and ensuring the unimpeded movement in the Lachin Corridor under the control of Russian peacekeepers are key to a political resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, the establishment of lasting peace and stability in the region, and peaceful coexistence of peoples.

We urge the entire international community, including the United Nations Security Council and the co-chairing and member countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, to promptly pay attention to these actions of Azerbaijan, which could lead to a large-scale humanitarian disaster. We emphasize the necessity of launching or reactivating international mechanisms to ensure the rights and security of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, and in this regard, we will start consultations with international partners in the near future.”