120,000 residents of Artsakh under complete blockade - Gegham  Stepanyan

ArmInfo.Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan posted the following Facebook message: 

"Azerbaijan's deliberate closure of the only Artsakh-Armenia road is  another manifestation of the policy of intimidation and genocide  against the people of Artsakh.

"On December 3, 2022, in the afternoon, the Azerbaijani side blocked  the Stepanakert-Goris Highway on the Shushi section, which is the  only road connecting Artsakh with the outside world, for false  environmental reasons. 

"At the moment, 120,000 residents of Artsakh are under complete  blockade, faced with an impending humanitarian catastrophe, for which  the Azerbaijani authorities are criminally responsible.

"Since the establishment of the ceasefire, we have repeatedly  witnessed Azerbaijan's deliberate targeting of infrastructure in  order to disrupt the normal life in Artsakh, as well as actions aimed  at disrupting its operation, which is part of the general policy of  ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. Moreover, even recently, the Azerbaijani  side has constantly come up with false informational reasons to  legitimise the possible closure of the road.

"We have reported on the recurrence of such threats through various  channels and means. As a result of the lack of proper and targeted  prevention, the Azerbaijani side acts with impunity, to which must be  finally put an end.

"Therefore, I urge and demand from the main players of the  international community to take punitive and preventive measures with  targeted and tough steps, otherwise repetition of such cases and a  humanitarian catastrophe are inevitable."

Below is a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the  Republic of Artsakh: 

"In the afternoon of December 3, the Azerbaijani side resorted to  another provocation, blocking the Stepanakert-Goris highway at the  Shoushi-Karin Tak crossroad, thus cutting off Artsakh's connection  with Armenia and communication with the villages of Berdadzor  sub-region of the Shoushi region.

"This terrorist act once again proves that Azerbaijan's primary goal  has remained unchanged - to deport the Armenians of Artsakh, to carry  out ethnic cleansing and genocide there.

"This terrorist move also undermines the internationally agreed  arrangement on the Lachin Corridor and strikes a sneaky blow to the  peacekeeping mission of the Russian Federation ensuring peace and  stability in the region.

"Azerbaijan's genocidal policy and actions are a serious challenge to  the civilized world and obvious disrespect and disregard of  international law.

"We call on the international community to strictly condemn the  Armenophobian state policy of Azerbaijan and take active steps to  deter the aggressor."