Artsakh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Issues Statement

Artsakh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement, noting:

“We emphasize the calls made at the highest level by the United Nations, the European Union, the Council of Europe, and other reputable international actors to immediately cease the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan. At the same time, it is evident that such calls have no effect on the leadership of Azerbaijan, which, in conditions of total impunity and lawlessness, continues its genocidal policies and is starving the 120,000 residents of Artsakh by creating unbearable living conditions for them.

International organizations, individual states, and entities all consistently record the fact of the illegal blockage of the Lachin corridor in their periodic appeals and statements, emphasizing the necessity of restoring free movement through the corridor. However, effective and concrete measures in this direction are not being taken. Meanwhile, the humanitarian catastrophe and human rights crisis in the Republic of Artsakh continue to worsen day by day.

Recent statements from Azerbaijan regarding the use of alternative routes to deliver humanitarian aid to Artsakh once again demonstrate that Baku is using the blockade as a weapon and a means to suppress the people of Artsakh. Azerbaijan exploits the suffering of people and the humanitarian crisis it has created to achieve its own political objectives. Such actions and behavior by Azerbaijan, being inhumane, must be decisively rejected by the international community.

In this regard, we once again firmly call on all interested states, international organizations, and other international actors to move from words to action to put an end to the international crimes being committed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and its people. We remind that the prevention of the crime of genocide is an erga omnes (binding on all) obligation of states, according to which each state must make active and continuous efforts to prevent such crimes.

The ongoing humanitarian catastrophe and human rights crisis in the Republic of Artsakh pose a real challenge to the efficacy of the involved international actors. We are convinced that, in accordance with their commitments, they are capable of rectifying such blatant violations of international legal order by Azerbaijan and preventing the commission of genocide. Otherwise, all calls for a peaceful and long-term resolution of the conflict will be detached from reality, devoid of content, and without prospects.”