Artsakh's Foreign Ministry Issues Statement

The Artsakh Foreign Ministry calls for the international community's attention to the fact that Azerbaijan has been completely and illegally blocking the Lachin Corridor for the 9th day. According to point 6 of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, control over this corridor is reserved for the Russian peacekeeping forces.

It should be noted that due to the provocative actions of the Azerbaijani side and the subsequent complete blockage of the road through the Lachin Corridor since June 15, all transport of humanitarian cargo necessary for the survival of the 120,000 population of the Republic of Artsakh, including food and other essential goods, has been suspended by the Russian peacekeeping forces. The International Committee of the Red Cross is unable to transport seriously ill patients from Artsakh to medical institutions in Armenia, nor is it providing vital medicine to the republic.

As a result, the domestic supply of food and medicines is rapidly depleting, threatening to turn the situation in the republic into a humanitarian disaster. Furthermore, on June 22, the Azerbaijani side installed concrete blocks on the Khakari Bridge, completely blocking the only passage connecting Artsakh to Armenia, making it technically impossible for vehicles to move along this route.

Thus, within just one month, Azerbaijan has turned its illegally installed and advertised checkpoint along the road through the Lachin Corridor into a military stronghold equipped with armored vehicles, engineering barriers, and armed personnel. This further proves that all actions of the Azerbaijani side, including the staged protest by fake activists, the blockade of the Stepankert-Goris road, disruptions in the supply of gas and electricity from Armenia to Artsakh, targeting of civilian residents, and hindrance to agricultural activities, are premeditated and planned, aiming to make life for Armenians in Artsakh impossible.

The authorities of the Republic of Artsakh have repeatedly warned that the illegal installation of the Azerbaijani checkpoint will have negative consequences for the safe and unhindered movement along the Lachin Corridor, which is now effectively completely halted, and 120,000 people in Artsakh, including 30,000 children, find themselves in a hostage situation in their own homes.

Ignoring the realities on the ground, making addressless statements and calls, and the absence of concrete and commensurate actions from the international community only encourage the Azerbaijani authorities to continue and intensify their illegal and aggressive actions.

We call on the parties that signed the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, and primarily the Russian Federation, to take all necessary measures to ensure the strict and full implementation of international obligations.

We appeal to the UN Security Council, which bears primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, as well as to all responsible members of the international community, including the leaders of individual countries and international organizations, to move from words to actions and take all necessary measures within the framework of collective defense responsibilities to prevent the military crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity committed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and its people.