The RA Human Rights Defender Ms. Anahit Manasyan issued a statement regarding the violation of the fundamental rights of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the blocking of the Lachin Corridor, in which it is said:

“The Human Rights Defender notes that the Armenian population of Artsakh has been under a blockade for more than 7 months, as a result of which the humanitarian disaster is worsening day by day, indirectly causing irreversible consequences, including the loss of life.

In particular, due to the blocking of the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the world, the human rights of people, especially the fundamental rights and freedoms of representatives of vulnerable groups, such as the rights to life, security, freedom of movement, food (nutrition), mental and physical health, adequate standard of living, and education, and the dignity of the population, which is a fundamental principle and basis of human rights, are continuously violated.

The Azerbaijani authorities installed concrete barriers on the Lachin corridor on June 22, 2023, further hindering the delivery of humanitarian assistance by the Russian Peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross, worsening the humanitarian situation in Artsakh (the complete block of the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Artsakh began on June 15, 2023). Although the concrete barrier has now been removed, the delivery of humanitarian aid (basic necessities and food) continues to be blocked by the Azerbaijani authorities. The lack of basic necessities and food has led to malnutrition, which has significantly affected the health of the population. Moreover, the Azerbaijani side continuously obstructs the transfer of patients from Artsakh to Armenia by the International Committee of the Red Cross; the Azerbaijani side has regularly banned the transfer of patients as well.

The facts registered, and the analysis conducted by the Human Rights Defender’s Office prove that the acts of the Azerbaijani authorities which are aimed at making the realization of the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh impossible, combined with the state-sponsored policy of Armenophobia pursue one aim: to depopulate Artsakh from its Armenian population, through the deepening of the humanitarian crisis. The Human Rights Defender once again calls on international organizations and actors, to make effective efforts to prevent the forthcoming ethnic cleansing.

At the same time, within the context of its mandate, the Human Rights Defender’s Office daily registers information and facts regarding the continuous gross violations of human rights and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, as a result of the Armenophobic policy of the Azerbaijani authorities and presents them to international organizations.”