Nagorno Karabakh President says he asked Pashinyan to call Putin

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS. On July 5, President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Arayik Harutyunyan held a meeting to discuss the operational military-political and humanitarian situation, the necessary actions to be taken by the authorities, Harutyunyan’s office said in a readout.

In his speech, the President Harutyunyan emphasized the “deteriorating security and humanitarian situation, which poses significant threats to the existence of the people of Artsakh in light of increasing threats from Azerbaijan and the complete suspension of humanitarian transportation.”

"The current situation, along with its dangers and our expectations, has been communicated in all possible ways by the authorities of Artsakh to the relevant authorities in Armenia, Russia, and other members of the international community. Immediate and effective action is urgently needed from all responsible actors, each within their respective responsibilities. Given the alarming situation we face, the people of Artsakh and the authorities expect concrete results in the shortest possible time to alleviate the security and humanitarian situation and lift the blockade. We are making every effort to manage the situation within our limited capabilities, implementing action plans based on various scenarios. In this context, I want to emphasize that the Republic of Artsakh remains committed to a constructive approach and is prepared to discuss and resolve all issues through civilized dialogue and peaceful means," President Arayik Harutyunyan said.

The meeting also involved a discussion on the outcomes of a phone call between the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Russia, which took place at the request of the Artsakh President, as well as other agenda items. At the conclusion, the President of the Republic issued appropriate instructions to the relevant authorities.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke by phone on July 5 with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Pashinyan and Putin discussed the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor and ways of overcoming it, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

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 medicine. 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 evacuation of patients.