On February 9, Ambassador Armen Papikyan, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE, during the session of the OSCE Permanent Council, thoroughly addressed the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh caused by the blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan since December 12, 2022.
The ambassador stressed that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been under a de facto siege for two months. Food and medicine supplies are almost entirely stopped. It was emphasized that the deliberate periodic disconnections of gas supply by Azerbaijan in the conditions of the cold winter, the intentional failure of electricity in the entire territory of Nagorno Karabakh, and the creation of unbearable conditions for survival have one goal: to force the Armenian population of Artsakh to leave their homes and deprive them of the right to live in their homeland.
In his speech, the permanent representative of the Republic of Armenia stated that Azerbaijan’s claims that free movement is ensured through the Lachin Corridor do not correspond to reality.
Calling on the OSCE member states to increase the pressure on Azerbaijan, Ambassador Papikyan highly appreciated the clear statements and positions of several OSCE participating countries so far, which call on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally lift the blockade and guarantee free and unhindered movement through the Lachin Corridor, which, however, is sufficient. No.
Ambassador Papikyan stressed that it is imperative to send an international fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and Lachin Corridor to assess the humanitarian situation and prevent new aggression.
Armen Papikyan added that violating the norms of international humanitarian law and the tripartite declaration of November 9, Azerbaijan continues to hold Armenian prisoners of war and civilians as hostages, and the fate of many forcibly disappeared remains unknown. The destruction of Artsakh’s Armenian historical, cultural, and religious heritage continues in the territories passed under Azerbaijani control. Azerbaijan still rejects the fact-finding mission of UNESCO to Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent regions.
