15:35,

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. Many international organizations, governments and international human rights advocates are united in assessing the serious humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh and call for an end to the blockade of Lachin Corridor, Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said on July 29.

In a tweet, Badalyan called on Azerbaijan to implement its obligation and not deviate from it.

“Many international organizations, governments, international human rights advocates are united in assessment of serious humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh &in call to lift Lachin Corridor blockade as confirmed by ICJ and ECHR. Instead of deviating from its clear obligation, Azerbaijan should implement it,” Badalyan tweeted.

She also shared the previous statements made by Freedom House, Human Rights Watch and the ICRC calling on Azerbaijan to end the blockade.

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.