The second week of the blockade of the Lachin corridor and the blockade of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is underway. What are the challenges facing the Republic?
As a result of Azerbaijan’s actions in Artsakh, 120 000 people, including 30 000 children are in the blockade. Food, medicines, fuel and essential goods do not enter the Republic, despite the fact that a total of 400 tons of cargo was delivered daily from Armenia. Patients in need of urgent medical attention on the territory of Armenia are deprived of such an opportunity. Many families are divided.
In this way, elementary human rights are violated, not to mention the fact that Artsakh is threatened with a humanitarian catastrophe.
What are Artsakh’s expectations from the international community?
In our opinion, in the current situation, the international community should react and condemn Azerbaijan for its genocidal actions, use all its political and diplomatic potential to resolve the crisis.
It is worth emphasizing that passivity and indifference of the international community have served as fertile ground for the aggressive actions of Azerbaijan. This is evidenced by the fact that Azerbaijan has been imitating participation in negotiations for decades and preparing for a forceful solution of the issue. The unaddressed and unproductive reaction of the mediators and the international community to regular ceasefire violations and aggressive anti-Armenian rhetoric actually became a “green light” for his further actions. It should be noted that in September and December 2022, the actions of Azerbaijan against Armenia and Artsakh were the subject of discussion in the UN Security Council, but it is clear that Azerbaijan cannot be stopped only by statements. More effective measures are needed. It is about political and legal consequences.
What are Artsakh’s expectations from the Russian peacekeeping mission?
As you know, the Russian Federation is carrying out a peacekeeping mission in the conflict zone in accordance with the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020. The duties of the Russian peacekeeping contingent /RPC/ include ensuring the security of Artsakh and the Lachin corridor – the only road connecting the republic with Armenia. It was on the basis of trust in Russian peacekeepers that many Artsakh residents returned to their homes after a bloody war and heavy losses.
Azerbaijan, with its provocative actions and statements, is discrediting the peacekeeping efforts of Russia, trying to achieve the withdrawal of RPC from Artsakh in 2025. I am convinced that the Russian Federation must stop the Azerbaijani provocations and fulfill its mission to ensure the security of the people of Artsakh in the future.
What goals, in your opinion, are the Azerbaijani authorities pursuing by organizing a blockade under the guise of an “environmental” action?
It should be noted that the Azerbaijani side continues to escalate the situation around Artsakh, resorting to various kinds of provocations and sabotage, and the so-called “environmental” action is an integral part of a targeted policy to de-Armenize Artsakh.
This is confirmed by the aggressive actions that began at the end of 2020. These include the occupation of the villages of Khin Tager and Khtsaberd, which are part of the RPS’s area of responsibility, the shutdown of the republic’s gas supply in March and December of this year, the advance of the Azerbaijani military in the direction of Parukh-Karaglukh, an armed provocation in the Berdzor region, psychological pressure on the population. And now we are faced with the blocking of the “road of life” connecting Artsakh with Armenia…
What actions, in your opinion, should be taken in Armenia and the Diaspora to overcome these and future challenges?
It should be recognized that Artsakh’s efforts alone to counter existential challenges are not enough.
To resolve them, it is necessary to unite the potential of all Armenians – in Artsakh itself, in Armenia and in the Diaspora. It is necessary to intensify political, diplomatic, informational and lobbying work at all possible platforms and in international instances. The main direction of pan-Armenian efforts should be to strengthen the security and defense capabilities of both Armenian states, and in the current situation, also focusing the attention of the international community on the problem of the blockade of Artsakh, a favorable outcome of the crisis, obtaining political and legal assessments of Azerbaijan’s actions in order to prevent them in the future.
