Friday, June 16 2023 10:01

ArmInfo.The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh issued a statement on the complete  blocking of the Lachin corridor. 

On June 15, Azerbaijan resorted to a provocation near the Hakari  bridge, completely blocked the Lachin corridor thereby blocking all  the humanitarian, passenger and cargo transportation in both  directions. 

Azerbaijan's actions prevented the planned transfer of patients from  Artsakh to Armenia through the mediation of the Russian peacekeeping  troops. The movement of vehicles of the Russian peacekeeping troops  in the direction of Goris to deliver humanitarian cargoes to Artsakh  has been blocked as well.  

"Complete blocking of the Lachin corridor, which is even now being  used with restrictions for only humanitarian purposes because of the  6-month-long illegal blockade of Artsakh, is one more proof of a  flagrant violation of its international commitments by Azerbaijan,  including a legally binding ruling by the International Court of  Justice. In fact, Azerbaijan is using the illegally established  checkpoint in the Lachin corridor only as an instrument for its  policy of ethnic cleansing against the Artsakh people," the statement  reads. 

It is obvious that, as a follow-up to its policy of ethnic cleansing  in Artsakh and deportation of the people from their lands by creating  unbearable living conditions by means of a long blockade and  establishing Azerbaijan's control over the Lachin corridor,  Azerbaijan's authorities have resorted to new provocations aimed at  tightening the blockade and isolating the Artsakh people from the  outside world, depriving them even of the limited humanitarian  cargoes by the ICRC and Russian peacekeeping troops.  

"In conditions of permissibility and absence of drastic measures by  the international community against the policy of ethnic cleansing in  Artsakh, Azerbaijan's actions are becoming more and more threatening.   To prevent further atrocities and crimes against the Artsakh,  Azerbaijan's aggressive actions must get an adequate political  assessment and condemnation by the international community, primarily  by all the parties involved in the process. 

"We emphasize once again that preventing mass human rights  violations, including ethnic cleansing and genocide, is a commitment  of entire international community," the statement reads. 

Azerbaijan tried to hoisted up its flagpole in Armenia's sovereign  territory in the direction of the village of Tegh. Media outlets  circulated a video claiming the Russian peacekeepers allegedly  assisting Azerbaijan.  However, reliable sources told ArmInfo that it  was an edited video. In fact, Russian peacekeepers tried to prevent  the incident and even scuffled with Azerbaijani frontier guards. The  sources also reported the illegal flagpole will be removed today.