Russia is concerned about the blocking of the Lachin Corridor, and expects that transport links will be restored there in the near future, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said, RIA Novosti reports.

“We are concerned about the blocking of the Lachin corridor, it was caused by disagreements between the parties on the development of ore deposits. The Russian Defense Ministry and the Russian peacekeeping contingent have been actively working all these days to de-escalate the situation. We look forward to restoring full-fledged transport links in the very near future,” Zakharova said at a briefing.

She stressed that the Lachin corridor provides a connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, is under the control of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, and when signing the statement of the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan dated 9 November, 2020, “the parties assumed obligations that must be strictly observed.”

“It is unacceptable to create problems for the life of the civilian population,” Zakharova added.

“We are forced to comment separately on the unfounded accusations and provocative actions against Russian peacekeepers. Wherever they come from, we consider them unacceptable and counterproductive. The Russian peacekeeping contingent is effectively fulfilling its tasks, acting as a guarantor of stability in the region,” she concluded.

The Russian Defense Ministry previously reported that on December 12, the Azerbaijani side blocked the Stepanakert -Goris road, the only highway that connects Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, in connection with which the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent is negotiating with representatives of Azerbaijan to resume the unhindered movement of civilian transport in this direction. The US State Department also called on the Azerbaijani side to unblock the Lachin corridor. Baku calls what is happening a protest action of civil activists and environmentalists against the “illegal activities of the Armenian side.”