Azerbaijan is preparing another military provocation, Prime Minister

All signs indicate that Azerbaijan is preparing another military provocation, including in Nagorno-Karabakh. This statement was made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan before the start of today’s cabinet meeting.

“The developments in the situation raise urgent questions regarding the activities of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. I must candidly say that Armenia is a firm supporter and advocate of the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh. However, it is unacceptable for us to become silent witnesses to the increasingly visible actions of the Russian peacekeeping forces as they turn a blind eye to the depopulation of Nagorno-Karabakh,” Pashinyan stated.

According to him, clarifying these issues should be done in cooperation with Russia and other international partners to prevent further escalation of the situation and to achieve comprehensive resolutions.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to reaffirm Armenia’s willingness and determination to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, complete border delimitation, and open regional communications.

It is noteworthy that on the morning of December 12, a group of Azerbaijanis in civilian clothes closed the Stepanakert-Goris highway connecting Artsakh to Armenia under the guise of environmental reasons at the intersection near Shushi-Karin Tak. On December 13, the Azerbaijani side also cut off gas supply to Artsakh. In the morning of December 16, Artsakh’s State Minister Ruben Vardanyan reported that gas supply to Artsakh was restored without any preconditions. However, the Lachin corridor remains closed.