The Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reported that since December 12 of the previous year, Azerbaijani authorities have again cut off gas supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh, marking the thirteenth such cut since that date. He shared these details at the next government meeting, according to Armenian state news reports.
In what observers describe as the 100-day mark of what Yerevan calls an illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, gas to Nagorno-Karabakh was halted for the thirteenth time. The assertion reflects a continuing pattern that Armenia says disrupts daily life and undermines regional stability.
Pashinyan also addressed comments attributed to President Ilham Aliyev, who suggested that a peace agreement would not be possible unless Armenia accepted terms favorable to Azerbaijan. The Armenian prime minister characterized Aliyev’s stance as an attack on Yerevan and a serious breach of previously agreed understandings reached at the highest levels of dialogue. [Citation: official statements reported by Armenian state media]
Aliyev is reported to have spoken in a telephone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The discussion reportedly covered the Lachin corridor and alleged violations by Armenia, underscoring the role of international mediation in the crisis. [Citation: readouts from the U.S. State Department]
Earlier, Blinken spoke with Pashinyan by phone to discuss avenues for peace talks with Azerbaijan and to seek constructive steps that could de-escalate tensions. The conversations signal ongoing international engagement around Nagorno-Karabakh and the humanitarian implications of the corridor closures. [Citation: official U.S. diplomacy briefings]
Analysts note that the gas disruption aggravates a broader dispute over the Lachin corridor, a vital conduit connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. The interruptions have wide-reaching effects on energy supply, civilian welfare, and regional diplomacy, prompting calls from international observers for immediate de-escalation and verifiable compliance with any accords reached. The situation remains a focal point for regional security discussions and humanitarian concern, with governments and aid organizations urging transparency and adherence to humanitarian norms. [Citation: regional security analyses and humanitarian briefings]