It Would Be Logical If the Russian Foreign Ministry Sent Messages Regarding the Blockade of the Lachin Corridor: Ruben Rubinyan

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has recorded the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. This was stated by Deputy Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan during an interview on Public TV.

He mentioned that the Armenian side insisted on sending an international mission to the Lachin Corridor, which has found some understanding within PACE, a stance opposed by the Azerbaijani delegation.

Referring to the reaction of the Russian Foreign Ministry concerning the dispatch of a European Union civilian mission to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Rubinyan noted that Armenia has security issues which it addresses through available means. “We are ready to cooperate with anyone on this matter. We are not doing this against anyone,” he emphasized.

According to him, it would have been logical if the Russian Foreign Ministry had made statements regarding the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, while the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) recorded the fact of Azerbaijan's assault on Armenian sovereign territory.

It is worth recalling that since December 12 at 10:30 AM, the connection of the villages of Lisagor, Mets Shen, Hin Shen, and Yeghdzahogh in the Shushi region with the capital city of Stepanakert has been interrupted. A group of Azerbaijanis in civilian clothes has once again closed the Stepanakert-Goris highway, citing environmental reasons.

An operational headquarters has been established under the leadership of Artsakh’s State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, which operates on a 24-hour basis to coordinate efforts in response to the situation created by the blockade of the road connecting Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Since December 14, protests have begun near various organizations’ representative offices and embassies in Armenia. The UN Security Council has discussed the situation in the Lachin Corridor, during which representatives from the USA, Russia, France, and the UK highlighted the necessity to restore traffic through the corridor.

On December 25, a large public rally took place in Stepanakert's Renaissance Square. The Artsakh government announced that it is temporarily halting the operation of the mine and has decided to apply to international organizations to conduct an international environmental assessment related to the activities of the company 'Base Metals.'