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.
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.
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.
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.