Video: Russia Unable to Ensure Stability and Security in Nagorno-Karabakh, Prime Minister

The Lachin corridor has been closed by Azerbaijan, which is a gross violation of its international obligations, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at the start of the government meeting.

“Even if we base ourselves on Azerbaijan's propagandistic version that the Lachin corridor was closed by eco-activists, according to point 6 of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, ensuring the safe passage of citizens, vehicles, and cargo through the Lachin corridor is a direct obligation of Azerbaijan. In this context, the Russian peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as Russia itself, which has undertaken specific security commitments towards the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, need to clarify the situation clearly,” he said.

Pashinyan emphasized that if Russia is unable to ensure stability and security in Nagorno-Karabakh due to objective or subjective reasons, it should initiate discussions at the UN Security Council and raise the issue of endowing Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh with a UN Security Council mandate or sending an additional multinational peacekeeping force to Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Such a question arises also because the closure of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan is not the first case of encroachment into the responsibility zone of the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh,” he noted.

According to the Prime Minister, all signs indicate that Azerbaijan is preparing for yet another military provocation, including in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“I must candidly state that the Republic of Armenia is a strong supporter of the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh and advocates for that presence. However, it is unacceptable for us to become silent witnesses to the gradual increase in the visible actions of Russian peacekeepers while they stand by during the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. In any case, we must work closely with Russia and other international partners on clarifying these issues to prevent further escalation of the situation and to achieve comprehensive resolutions,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

For more details, please refer to the video.