On 6 January, H.E. Karekin the Second Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians during the Holy Liturgy referred to the closing of the Lachin Corridor.
“Dear citizens of Artsakh, the thoughts and views of our people these days are mainly directed towards you. You, who have never given up and never backed down in the face of difficulties, today continue to fight heroically for your free and independent life, for the restoration of historical justice. Following the glorious example of your brave ancestors, remain firm and indomitable in your determination to live and create in your native land. Our Holy Church with its worldwide dioceses is with you, backing and supporting you. The just demand for the protection of your fundamental rights will win with the efforts of all Armenians and the support of the international community. We believe that with God’s mercy, our people will shine a light in the darkness surrounding them and face the most serious challenges they face in their lives.”
On 29 December, the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia, also issued a condemning statement.
“Under the guise of environmental protection claims, this blockade pursues the realization of the corrupt ambitions of Azerbaijan’s dictatorial leadership to seize the most essential resources of Artsakh’s economy,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced during the session of the RA Government on 29 December. “If for objective or subjective reasons Russia is unable to ensure stability and security in Nagorno Karabakh, then I believe it must initiate a discussion in the UN Security Council and raise the issue of either granting the UN Security Council mandate to the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno Karabakh or deploying an additional, multinational peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno Karabakh.
…I must honestly say that the Republic of Armenia is a convinced supporter of the presence of the peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation in Nagorno-Karabakh. But it is unacceptable for us to become a silent witness to the depopulation of Nagorno Karabakh, the more and more visible practices of the peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation. In any case, we will work closely with the Russian Federation and our other international partners to clarify these issues in order to prevent further escalation of the situation and to reach a comprehensive settlement. I also have to reaffirm Armenia’s willingness and determination to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, complete border delimitation, and open regional communications.”
On 28 December, three patients receiving treatment at the “Republican Medical Center” CJSC of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Artsakh were transferred to different specialized medical centers of the Republic of Armenia with the mediation and accompaniment of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
On 28 December, it was announced that the Government of the Republic of Artsakh has decided to set restrictions on the provision of public food services. The decision came into force on 29 December at 13:00, according to which:
- It is prohibited to organize and hold festive, family or other private meals with the participation of more than 15 people in public catering facilities.
- It is prohibited to organize and hold funeral ceremonies with the participation of more than 35 people in public food facilities.
- Clauses 1 and 2 of these Restrictions also apply to the provision of public catering services by public caterers outside public catering facilities (at a place chosen by the consumer).
- The operation of public catering facilities after 23:00 is prohibited.
- In the sense of these Restrictions, restaurants, banquet halls, as well as public catering facilities attached to hotels, tourist houses are considered public catering facilities.
On 27 December, the Artsakh InfoCenter reported that 11 children are in the neonatal and intensive care units in the “Arevik” medical unit. The 4-month-old baby from Artsakh who was transferred to Armenia on 24 December with the diagnosis of “genital leishmaniasis” continues to receive treatment at the RA specialized medical center and his condition is stabilizing. At the “Republican Medical Center”, 10 patients are in the intensive care unit, 5 of them are in critical condition.
According to the Artsakh InfoCenter, on 27 December, due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia, scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical facilities operating under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia.
Through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, on 25 December, 10 tons of humanitarian cargo – medicine, baby food, medical supplies – were delivered to Artsakh.
On 25 December, a popular rally was held in Revival Square of Stepanakert.
On 23 December, a group of Artsakh citizens moved from Stepanakert to Shushi in order to present counter-arguments to the false claims of Azerbaijanis posing as environmentalists who blocked the road connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the outside world. At the checkpoint of the Russian peacekeeping troops, they were told that negotiations are currently underway to open the road, and such initiatives may aggravate the situation.
On the evening of 13 December, the Artsakh InfoCenter reported that Azerbaijan stopped the gas supply to Artsakh. Stepanakert considered it “humanitarian and economic terrorism, which Azerbaijan consistently carries out against the civilians of Artsakh”. Gas supply was restored on 16 December. Artak Beglaryan, Adviser to the Minister of State of Artsakh, noted that it was restored as a result of international pressure.
At around 10:30 on 12 December, the Azerbaijani side, violating the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November, 2020, closed the only way of life connecting Artsakh to the world for environmental reasons, violating the vital interests and rights of the civilian population. They set up tents and brought stoves. The road has been closed for 26 days.
More than 120 thousand Artsakh Armenians, including about 30 thousand children, are under siege. 1100 citizens, including 270 children, are deprived of the opportunity to return home.
The transport connection of Lisagor, Mets Shen, Hin Shen and Yegtsahogh villages of Shushi region with the capital Stepanakert is interrupted.
