No Exit Strategies in Sight: Ruben Vardanyan Gives Interviews to Italian and Spanish Publications

The Minister of State for the Republic of Artsakh, Ruben Vardanyan, has given interviews to the Spanish EL PAIS and the Italian La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana, discussing the current situation in Artsakh: “For almost two months now, Artsakh has been blockaded by Azerbaijan, yet no exit strategies are in sight. The Armenian population continues to rely on humanitarian aid from the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers. The enclave’s authorities have requested the international community to provide an airbridge and impose sanctions on Azerbaijan,” EL PAIS quotes Vardanyan as saying, adding that the possibility of an air humanitarian corridor would prevent a humanitarian crisis. “This is a real solution that was also implemented during the blockades of Berlin (1948-1949) and Sarajevo (1992-1996).”

“The situation is very complicated. The limited supply of food and electricity and the economic crisis are negatively impacting the livelihood of the people, yet simultaneously, people understand that this is part of our struggle for independence. Azerbaijan's aim is to force people under its control through the blockade, which means forced deportations and ethnic cleansing. The European community must compel its authorities to impose sanctions against Baku,” Vardanyan told EL PAIS.

The Italian publication La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana, which published the interview titled “You Cannot Ignore Us: The Minister of State of Besieged Artsakh Speaks,” writes in its introduction: “In Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), which is fighting for its independence, a new crisis has been unraveling for two months now. Azerbaijan has blocked the Lachin corridor, which has been the only route connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia since the 2020 war, relying on which all essential supplies depend. The crisis is of a humanitarian nature. Politically, Azerbaijan's motives remain unexplained, except for the tendency to bring the independence-seeking Armenian population to its knees.”

In response to a question about the EU's actions and the European Parliament's resolution condemning the blockade, Vardanyan stated: “The problem with the European Union is that actions do not follow words, probably because Azerbaijan provides oil and gas under very favorable conditions.”