STATEMENT ON IMMIDIATE OPENNING OF LACHIN CORRIDOR

The Human Rights Research Center strictly condemns the installation by Azerbaijan of a concrete barrier to completely block the Lachin Corridor - the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the outside world.

Since June 23, Azerbaijan has blocked the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the outside world, by installing a concrete barrier.

The barrier, in addition to the illegal checkpoint & armored vehicles, completely isolates Artsakh, further aggravating the living and survival conditions of the people of Artsakh, who have been under siege for almost half a year.

It has been almost 15 days since Azerbaijan banned the entry of humanitarian cargo and the transportation of people in need of urgent medical assistance to Armenia accompanied by the Red Cross.

On 16 June, the RA Human Rights Defender published an extraordinary report on the humanitarian consequences of blocking the Lachin Corridor (see here). The report was sent to mandated international human rights organizations and actors.

On 22 June, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted the resolution "Ensuring free and safe access through the Lachin Corridor" (see here), inter alia calling on Azerbaijan to immediately comply with the judgment issued by the European Court of Human Rights on 22 December, 2021 (see here).

We should also mention that on 22 February of this year, the International Court of Justice issued a ruling obliging Azerbaijan "to take all measures to ensure unimpeded

movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both direction" (see here).

Azerbaijan's blocking of Lachin is part of the policy of ethnic cleansing of Artsakh Armenians, which we strongly condemn.

Blocking the Lachin Corridor directly violates the terms of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November, 2020 and constitutes a gross and continuous violation of the rights of Artsakh Armenians.

The Human Rights Research Center considers the opening of the Lachin Corridor as an issue of primary concern of all mandated stakeholders, in particular, the OSCE Minsk Group, the Council of Europe and the UN.

Human Rights Research Center calls upon international political bodies and institutions, international human rights organizations and groups to undertake rapid proactive actions (including application of political and economic sanctions) and oblige those in control of the Lachin Corridor, namely Azerbaijani authorities and Russian peacekeeping forces, to restore and to ensure a free and secure passage in both directions along the Lachin Corridor without any preconditions.

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