10:52, 27 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS. The convoy of trucks meant to deliver emergency food aid from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh is still unable to enter Lachin Corridor to reach its destination, the Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister said Thursday morning.

“Convoy of #Armenia waiting to enter through #Lachincorridor to #NagornoKarabakh. Meanwhile #Azerbaijan is failing to implement legally-binding order of #ICJ to ensure unimpeded access. In addition inhuman & cynical statements that “game is over” aired from #Baku,” Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan tweeted.

The trucks carrying 400 tons of humanitarian aid are at the Kornidzor border section awaiting a response from the Russian peacekeepers.

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.