Pashinyan's Statement on Azerbaijan's Blockade of the Lachin Corridor

In recent days, the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has severely worsened. As reported by Armenpress, this statement was made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a government meeting.

“Azerbaijan first blocked the Lachin Corridor, and then closed the gas pipeline supplying natural gas to Nagorno-Karabakh. As a result of these provocative actions, the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh have been deprived of the right to free movement and are facing difficulties in heating their homes in winter conditions. Thousands of people, including children, are left stranded in the cold winter conditions, and many families have been inadvertently split, finding themselves on different sides of the blockade. Citizens with serious health issues are deprived of medication and healthcare services. Supplies of food and other essential goods have been disrupted. A total of 120,000 people have effectively become hostages.

Schools and kindergartens heated by gas have been forced to suspend operations, resulting in around 22,000 children being deprived of their right to education,” the Prime Minister stated.

Nikol Pashinyan considers the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh a humanitarian crisis. “Moreover, this crisis has arisen because Azerbaijan has not fulfilled its international obligations. As has been said many times, the blockade of the Lachin Corridor is a direct and gross violation by Azerbaijan of the three-party statement dated November 9, 2020, on the simple grounds that according to the 6th point of that statement, the Lachin Corridor is under the control of the Russian Federation’s peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees the safe passage of citizens, transport vehicles, and cargo through the Lachin Corridor. This is a direct quote from the November 9 statement, and the statement is a document bearing the signature of the President of Azerbaijan,” Pashinyan emphasized.