16:10,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said on July 25 that the government of Nagorno Karabakh ought to do its part in managing the humanitarian crisis there. His comments came shortly after the Nagorno Karabakh President declared the entire Nagorno Karabakh to be a disaster zone amid the total blockade.

“I’d like to draw attention on an issue. Yes, we can say that Russia ought to do this, the US ought to do that, the EU ought to do this, and Armenia ought to do that, and Azerbaijan ought to do this. But we must also outline what the Nagorno Karabakh authorities ought to do. You can declare a disaster zone, but don’t the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh have something to do in managing the crisis? I think, in any case, by virtue of being the authorities they do. I think they ought to do their part, and we are ready to support them in the direction of doing that,” Pashinyan said at a press conference. 

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations and the Red Cross has been facilitating the medical evacuations of patients.