11:33, 23 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The International Court of Justice ruling recorded Azerbaijan’s conduct of attempting to mislead the international community. The court recorded Azerbaijan’s responsibility for closing the Lachin corridor and emphasized that the decision is binding for Azerbaijan, PM Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting, commenting on the world court’s judgment in the Armenia v. Azerbaijan case.

“Yesterday the court published its decisions, satisfying Armenia’s request and rejecting Azerbaijan’s request. With the binding decision the court obliged Azerbaijan to take all steps at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The court emphasized that the ruling is binding for Azerbaijan,” Pashinyan said, describing the judgment as extremely important.

Pashinyan commented on the political impact and significance of the ruling, noting that it exposed Azerbaijan’s conduct of trying to mislead the international community by falsely claiming that there is no blockade.

“Azerbaijan was claiming in all international bodies that the Lachin corridor isn’t closed. It’s another matter as to what extent the representatives of the international community believed Azerbaijan. But this recorded Azerbaijan’s conduct of misleading the international community. And this was recorded by the highest court of the world,” the PM said.

The Armenian PM highlighted that the court recorded the Azerbaijani state’s responsibility for the closure of the Lachin corridor, essentially dismissing the “eco-activist” narrative.

The court also reiterated Armenia’s stance that under the 9 November 2020 statement the Lachin corridor should not be under Azerbaijani control and that Azerbaijan has an obligation to guarantee safe passage of persons, vehicles and goods in both directions.

“Essentially ,the court recorded that this is Azerbaijan’s international obligation. The other important circumstance is that the court clearly recorded the existence of the Nagorno Karabakh entity in accordance with the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement, and therefore also the statement itself and its provisions, including an international legal significance was given related to the existence of NK and line of contact,” the PM said.

At the same time, the court confirmed that there is a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh due to the blockade.