Following Azerbaijani provocation near the Hakari bridge this morning, Azerbaijan has implemented a ban on all humanitarian passenger and cargo transportation through the Kashatagh (Lachin) corridor.
Artsakh InfoCenter reported
As a result, the International Committee of the Red Cross was unable to proceed with the transportation of 25 medical patients and their relatives from Artsakh to Armenia. They were forced to return to Stepanakert after being halted at an illegal Azerbaijani check point in the Kashatagh corridor.
Additionally, the planned passenger transportation for dozens of individuals due to urgent humanitarian needs, which was meant to be facilitated by Russian peacekeepers on the Stepanakert-Goris-Stepanakert route, was canceled.
The movement of Russian peacekeepers’ trucks heading to Goris for humanitarian cargo transportation was also halted.
The authorities of the Republic of Artsakh emphasize once again that the presence of the illegal Azerbaijani check point in the Kashatagh (Lachin) corridor poses significant dangers and obstacles to the free movement between Artsakh and Armenia. Today’s incident further highlights these risks and obstacles, which not only jeopardize the acute humanitarian needs of the people of Artsakh but also impede the limited movement of people and goods facilitated by the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers.
The authorities of Artsakh reassert their position that the provisions outlined in the Tripartite Declaration of November 9, 2020 regarding the Lachin Corridor should be immediately and unconditionally upheld, without any interference from Azerbaijan. They also call for the implementation of the decision made by the International Court of Justice of the United Nations on February 22, 2023.
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 184 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.”
