Pashinyan’s dissatisfaction
Nikol Pashinyan addressed a meeting of the Armenian government. He stated that the crisis in the Lachin corridor remains unresolved since the previous week. The situation has continued to be marked by serious humanitarian strain in Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinyan described ongoing shortages of basic goods, emphasizing that hundreds of families remain separated and that access to essential supplies is severely limited.
He argued that Azerbaijan’s actions are illegal and breach its international obligations. He recalled the agreement signed on November 9, 2020, noting that the Lachin corridor is under the control of a Russian peacekeeping mission and that Azerbaijan is responsible for safeguarding the safe movement of vehicles and goods through the corridor.
Pashinyan asserted that the tripartite declaration has not been implemented in practice. He claimed that the Russian peacekeeping unit has not fulfilled its obligation to oversee the corridor, misplacing accountability on the Russian side while Azerbaijan is identified as the primary party responsible for the current disruptions. He urged the deployment of international monitoring missions, including those from the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or the OSCE Minsk Group, to Nagorno-Karabakh to restore transparency and safety.
Responses from Moscow argued that Russian peacekeepers act in full compliance with the relevant documents and strive to restore order along the corridor. A Kremlin spokesperson reiterated that Russian troops are keeping the peace and operating according to the spirit and letter of the agreements reached by all parties involved.
Blockade of the road corridor
The Lachin corridor is a six kilometer mountainous route linking Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh, located in the Lachin region of Azerbaijan. After the 2020 conflict, a Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed to monitor and manage the area. In December, reports from Azerbaijani media highlighted protests by local activists and journalists who criticized what they described as illegal exploitation of mineral resources by Armenians, focusing on the road connecting Shusha to Stepanakert. Armenian representatives described actions by Azerbaijani citizens identifying as environmentalists as obstructing the sole route between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.
According to December reports, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that peacekeepers continue to operate in Nagorno-Karabakh, monitoring the situation around the clock from multiple observation points and maintaining ceasefire arrangements. It was noted that efforts were made to facilitate unhindered movement for civilian road transport through direct discussions with Azerbaijani authorities. The ministry also mentioned patrolling several routes across the Mardakert, Martuni, and Shusha regions to clear the area of obstructions.
Armenia later filed applications with international judicial bodies seeking interim measures to address the blockade. It argued that the Berdzor, or Lachin corridor, has been besieged, infringing upon the rights of the people of Artsakh. Requests were made to the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights to ensure free passage and to lift restrictions on traffic through the corridor.
On December 15, a United Nations spokesperson expressed concern about the Karabakh conflict zone and urged all parties to guarantee safe, unobstructed movement along the Lachin corridor. Russian officials reiterated their worry over the blockade and expressed hope for the restoration of full transport links in the near future.