Shortages of essential goods recorded in Stepanakert amid blockade

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) is under blockade as a result of Azerbaijan’s closure of the Lachin Corridor for already 12 days. The closure has led to the cut-off of food and medicine supplies, among other essential goods.

Nagorno Karabakh has been importing most of fruits and vegetables from Armenia, but now there are shortages of almost all goods in the market.

The Director of the Department of Protection of Economic Competition of the Public Services and Economic Competition Regulatory Commission of Nagorno Karabakh Hrach Avtandilyan told ARMENPRESS that they are monitoring the market every day.

“As of December 22, shortages of certain products are seen in major stores in Stepanakert, particularly shortages of rice, peas, groats, vegetable oil, local butter, sausage, and tobacco, while some other products have almost entirely run out in stores, particularly sugar, buckwheat, lentil, flour and the Baghramyan locally produced eggs,” he said.

Avtandilyan said their agency continues monitoring to control inflation and rule out possible profiteering attempts. He said businesses are displaying a high level of responsibility.