Artsakh has been under siege for 172 days.

On 1 June, the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, held an extended working consultation in the Government.

Issues related to military-political and socio-economic situation around Artsakh were discussed.

The heads of the sectoral departments reported on the progress of the implementation of the instructions previously given by the President of the Republic.

The President of the Republic, presenting the latest regional developments to the participants of the consultation, noted that security risks, long-term presence of blockade, energy crisis and other circumstances should be the basis of all the works and developed programs in the country.
In that context, the President has given a number of new short-term and long-term instructions in order to face the security risks, block them and overcome the problems caused by the energy crisis.

After Azerbaijan installed an illegal checkpoint on 23 April on the border with Armenia on the highway connecting Artsakh to Armenia, the communities of Hin Shen, Mets Shen, Lisagor and Yeghtsahogh of Berdadzor sub-district of Shushi region were under a bilateral blockade, deprived of all possibilities of communication with the rest of Artsakh and Armenia. Due to the Azerbaijani obstacles, all kinds of humanitarian supplies to the residents of those villages were also stopped.

On 22 February, the International Court published the decision regarding the request submitted by Armenia and stated: “Since 12 December, the connection through the Lachin Corridor has been disrupted, the supply of food, medicine and other necessary goods to Nagorno Karabakh has been hindered, which can cause irreparable damage.

“The Court considers that it is necessary to apply a temporary measure and court records that Azerbaijan is obliged to take the measures that depend on it to ensure the uninterrupted movement of people and goods in both directions through the Lachin Corridor.”

It was noted that the court’s decision came into force from the moment of its publication.

However, the fact is that the road is still closed. The cases of violation of the ceasefire regime by Azerbaijan have increased; this is confirmed by the reports of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Due to the lack of international pressure on Azerbaijan, the Armenians of Artsakh are facing a humanitarian disaster. The appeals of the international community have been ignored by the leadership of Azerbaijan until now.

Fundamental human rights have been violated for 168 days, and international organizations and states are silent.

Due to the terrorist behavior of the Azerbaijani side, the villages of Shushi region are completely cut off from the capital of Artsakh and other settlements.

It should be noted that the Governing Board of the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia also made a statement. “This blockade, under the guise of environmentalism, pursues   the realization of the corrupt ambitions of the despotic leadership of Azerbaijan to seize the most important assets of Artsakh’s economy.”