ArmInfo. Azerbaijan's growing aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh is clear evidence of Baku-planned ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia's Premier Nikol Pashinyan stated at a discussion on "Security and Stability in the South Caucasus. Armenia prospects."
By grossly violating the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, since December 12, 2022, Azerbaijan has been blocking the Lachin corridor, the only lifeline between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
"The blockade has caused a humanitarian catastrophe. 120,000 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh are deprived of natural gas, electricity, food and medicines, as well as other essential goods. Because of the severe shortage of food and other essential products, the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities had to take desperate steps - food coupons, daily rates of food," Mr Pashinyan said. The limited electricity supply caused closure of high and higher schools, kindergartens. As a result, over 30,000 children have been deprived of the right to education, he added.
On December 20, 2022, at Armenia's request, the U.S. Security Council held an extraordinary meeting to discuss the situation in the Lachin corridor. Late last December, Armenia lodged a claim against Azerbaijan and requested that the International Court of Justice oblige Azerbaijan to lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor and ensure unobstructed movement of people and vehicles along the corridor. And the ICJ did so.
Regrettably, Azerbaijan has not so far respected the ICJ ruling.
"Although gas supply has been resumed, electricity supply has been disrupted since January 9, 2023. People have to emergency medical aid and it is only the ICRC and Russian peacekeepers that can deliver limited food supplies and other essential goods to Nagorno-Karabakh and transport critical patients to Armenia's hospitals," Mr Pashinyan said.
In its ruling the ICJ notes that "the Trilateral Statement provides, inter alia, that the Lachin Corridor, "which will provide a connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia . . . shall remain under the control of the Russian Federation peacemaking forces". The Statement further states that "Azerbaijan shall guarantee the security of persons, vehicles and cargo moving along the Lachin Corridor in both directions."