United Kingdom Updates Weapons Embargo Guidance for Armenia and Azerbaijan

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Export Control Joint Unit have updated their guidance regarding the weapons embargo imposed on Armenia and Azerbaijan. According to Armenpress, the amendment clarifies the following: 'The supply of goods included in the list of military equipment to other end users, such as humanitarian, peacekeeping, research, or media organizations, will not be considered subject to the embargo if there is no clear risk of diversion to armed forces, police, or security forces of any state.'

In February 1992, the OSCE called on all participating countries to impose an embargo on 'all supplies of arms and ammunition to forces conducting military operations in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.' This embargo remains in effect. On July 2, 2014, the United Kingdom clarified that the arms embargo applies to the export, supply, or delivery of all items and components on the UK military list (which is part of the UK's strategic export control lists) that may be used in the Nagorno-Karabakh region or along the land border between Azerbaijan and Armenia.