VIDEO: "1100 People Are Stranded in Winter Cold Conditions" - Artsakh Human Rights Defender on the Lachin Corridor

For 24 hours now, the people of Artsakh have been under blockade, cut off from communication with the outside world. This was stated by Artsakh's Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan on his Facebook page.

He specifically noted: "The Azerbaijanis have closed the Stepanakert-Goris road, the only one, under the false pretense of environmental protection. This situation is leading to humanitarian catastrophic consequences: the supply of food, energy resources, medicines, and essential goods has ceased, thousands of people are in isolation, and around 1100 people are stranded on the road in winter cold conditions, unable to join their families. This includes 270 children who are currently separated from their families. This is yet another manifestation of Azerbaijan's policy of ethnic hatred aimed at terrorizing the people of Artsakh, forcing concessions on vital issues under the threat of existential danger, and imposing its will. These are widespread and gross violations of human rights, for which there has been no proper international response thus far. I expect an active response from international actors; people should not be ignored regardless of geopolitical realities and the political and economic interests of states," Stepanyan wrote.