Interstate Passenger Transport Suspended Due to Route Blockage by Azerbaijan

The only route connecting Artsakh to Armenia has been blocked by Azerbaijan, resulting in the suspension of interstate passenger transport for the second consecutive day. Many citizens have purchased tickets to Yerevan and other regions of Armenia. This was reported by the Artsakh Information Headquarters, citing the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Artsakh.

"Due to the disruption of regular passenger transport from Stepanakert to Yerevan, around 100 passengers stuck on the road have been temporarily accommodated in hotels and guesthouses in Stepanakert and Goris by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Artsakh, in collaboration with the Stepanakert Municipality. The Azerbaijani blockade has prevented many citizens, including patients in urgent need of medical assistance, from reaching Zvartnots International Airport to travel abroad. International flights continue to operate without the participation of Artsakh citizens. The only airport in the Republic of Artsakh is also non-operational due to Azerbaijani threats," the statement said.

It is noteworthy that as of 10:30 AM on December 12, the connection between the villages of Lisagor, Mets Shen, Khin Shen, and Yeghkhahog in the Shushi region and the capital Stepanakert has been interrupted. Additional information will be provided regarding the developments.

A group of Azerbaijani individuals dressed in civilian clothes has, under the pretext of environmental concerns, blocked the Stepanakert-Goris highway again this morning around 10:30 AM. A decision was made during the meeting of the Artsakh Security Council to send a letter to the command of the Russian peacekeeping forces. A session of the National Security Council of Armenia was also held regarding the Goris-Stepanakert route. Armenia has emphasized the necessity of implementing international mechanisms to ensure the rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. Ruben Vardanyan held an urgent working consultation today involving the heads and officials of the departments engaged in civil defense. Vardanyan informed that an operational headquarters would be established under his leadership in the government, which will operate in a 24-hour mode to coordinate work in response to the situation caused by the blockage of the road connecting Armenia and Azerbaijan. On December 13, the Azerbaijani side has also blocked gas supply to Artsakh.