Artsakh foreign office issues statement on disruption of gas supply  to Azerbaijan 

ArmInfo.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno- Karabakh Republic has issued the following statement: 

"On 6 February 2023, Azerbaijan once again cut off the natural gas  supply from Armenia to Artsakh through the only existing pipeline.  During the 57 days of the blockade, Azerbaijan cut off the gas supply  to Artsakh as many as 6 times, in particular on 13 December 2022 for  three days, on 17 January 2023 for one day, on 18 January for one  day, on 21 January for four days, and on 28 January for one day,  disrupting normal life in the republic and exerting psychological  pressure on the people of Artsakh.

"As a result of Azerbaijan's actions, 120 thousand residents of the  republic, including 30 thousand children, continue to face serious  difficulties with access to heating and hot water in conditions of  severe transport blockade and cold winter. The situation is further  aggravated by the acute shortage of electricity caused by a breakdown  on 9 January of the only high-voltage power line coming from Armenia,  which cannot be restored due to persistent obstruction by the  Azerbaijani side.

"Such actions of Azerbaijan clearly show that even after the signing  of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, official Baku did not  abandon its long-term policy of exterminating the people of Artsakh  in their historical homeland. To achieve this goal, the Azerbaijani  authorities have resorted to the blockade of Artsakh and disruption  of the critical energy infrastructure, thereby creating unbearable  living conditions and dooming the civilian population to incredible  hardships.

"The inhumane actions of Azerbaijan indicate that the leadership of  this country has placed itself above international law and human  morality. Ignoring the calls of many countries and international  organizations for the immediate lifting of the blockade of Artsakh  and the decision of the European Court of Human Rights to ensure the  free movement of people and cargo through the Lachin Corridor,  official Baku has in fact opposed itself to the civilized world. Such  behaviour became possible due to the impunity of the Baku regime,  which gives it a free hand to further tighten its criminal policy  against the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh.

"Under these circumstances, to prevent the destruction of the people  of Artsakh, we consider it necessary that the international community  direct their efforts not only to ending the blockade of Artsakh, but  also to taking prompt measures, including activation of early warning  mechanisms, adequate assessment and response to the genocidal policy  of Azerbaijan."