In Artsakh's Dire Humanitarian Situation, a Revelry of Hatred: Artsakh Foreign Ministry on 'Eco-Activists' Blocking the Lachin Corridor

The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh has issued a statement regarding the targeting of the peaceful population of Artsakh by the Azerbaijani armed forces. On March 22, Azerbaijani troops once again violated the ceasefire regime, opening fire on civilians engaged in agricultural work in the administrative area of the town of Chartar in the Martuni region of the Republic of Artsakh. This marks the third instance of Azerbaijani targeting of peaceful civilians within a week.

It is noteworthy that on March 15, Azerbaijani combat positions opened fire with small arms on farmers working in the vineyards adjacent to the Amaras Valley in the Martuni region, while on March 19, gunfire was directed at a civilian conducting agricultural work with a tractor in the administrative territory of Taghavard. Such recurrent attacks clearly fit into Azerbaijan's long-term and systematic policy aimed at creating unbearable living conditions in Artsakh, damaging the country's economy, and applying psychological pressure on the Armenian population of Artsakh.

As part of this policy, Artsakh has been under an organized blockade by Azerbaijani authorities for over 100 days, resulting in drastic reductions in the import of food, medicines, and other vital goods into the republic. The fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh, including free movement, adequate medical assistance, education, and other essential rights, have been violated. Furthermore, the Azerbaijani side regularly obstructs the gas supply to Artsakh and hinders the repair work on high-voltage power lines coming from Armenia, depriving the population of basic living conditions.

Amidst this grave humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, the so-called 'eco-activists' demonstrations are accompanied by music, dancing, fireworks, alcohol, and festivities, reminiscent of a revelry of hatred commemorating the illegal and inhumane blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan and the suffering of 120,000 people. By targeting citizens engaged in agricultural work, the Azerbaijani side is attempting to prevent the residents of Artsakh from alleviating the serious issues arising from food shortages due to the blockade.

Azerbaijan is striving to break the will of the people of Artsakh to live freely on their own land by any means necessary, even resorting to terrorist actions, such as the diversionary attack on March 5, which resulted in the deaths of three employees of the Artsakh police, with another sustaining serious injuries. Obvious nationalist, anti-Armenian, and inhumane calls are periodically heard from both the country's highest leadership and ordinary citizens. The most recent example is a widely circulated video in Azerbaijan's media landscape, where one of the 'environmentalists' blocking the Lachin corridor literally threatens to kill Armenians in celebration of the Novruz holiday, with the tacit consent of Azerbaijani authorities.

Against the backdrop of Azerbaijan's state-sponsored genocidal policies, we deem it necessary for the UN Security Council to take decisive and immediate measures aimed at ensuring the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh and preventing Azerbaijan's genocidal intentions. We are convinced that the best and most effective means of saving the people of Artsakh from ethnic cleansing and genocide is the recognition of their right to self-determination and its establishment as the basis for conflict resolution.