Zakharova on Russia's Involvement in Resuming Humanitarian Deliveries to Artsakh

The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, commented on the passage of humanitarian cargoes from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Stepanakert via two routes, highlighting Russia's involvement and role in the process.

The Russian side continues to assist in addressing the complicated humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, based on the initiative of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding the unblocking of the Lachin and Aghdam routes for humanitarian deliveries.

According to Maria Zakharova's comments regarding humanitarian assistance for the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, "On September 18, with the efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and with the participation of the Russian peacekeeping forces and the Russian Foreign Ministry, batches of food and medicine were simultaneously delivered to the region from two directions. We expect the continuation of unobstructed and regular humanitarian supplies in the interests of the local population. We hope that the gradual improvement of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh will create conditions for resuming regular work towards starting dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert, and implementing the entire complex of trilateral agreements at the highest level regarding the regulation of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations from 2020 to 2022. We are fully interested in maintaining peace and stability in the South Caucasus," Zakharova stated.

It should be noted that yesterday, on September 17, it became known that the authorities of Artsakh decided to allow the transportation of humanitarian cargo through the Hakari-Stepanakert route, emphasizing that this concerns the simultaneous transport of foreign-origin humanitarian cargo through the Berdzor corridor via the Goris-Stepanakert highway and the Hakari-Stepanakert road, using vehicles from the International Committee of the Red Cross. Footage has also been released showing how humanitarian cargo is being transported to Artsakh.