Armenian opposition lawmakers are still barred from entering Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) by Russian peacekeepers, the parliamentary faction of the Hayastan alliance said in a statement on Wednesday.
Several dozen MPs representing the opposition Hayastan and With Honor (Pativ Unem) blocs headed to Artsakh after announcing a boycott of the four-day parliament session on Tuesday. However, the Russian peacekeepers manning the Aghavno checkpoint in the Lachin corridor did not allow them to enter Artsakh without providing any explanations.
“It is worth noting that the incumbent authorities and the Azerbaijani side were very quick to react to the decision of the deputies to visit Artsakh, even making a demand to ban it,” the faction said.
“This behavior and situation, among other things, run counter to the commitment to ensure uninterrupted communication between Armenia and Artsakh. This situation is clearly unacceptable.
“At the same time, it is not clear what concrete measures the authorities have taken to solve the problem and prevent similar cases in the future, other than just making statements.
“We would like to inform you that the ban on the entry of MPs to Artsakh has not yet been lifted. The incumbent authorities, as a logical continuation of the statements made by them, must take immediate action and assure that unrestricted entry into Artsakh is allowed for all Armenian citizens," reads the statement.