The Lachin corridor, the only land link between Armenia and the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, has been blocked by Azerbaijani demonstrators. The protesters have set their sights on securing a meeting with Andrei Volkov, the commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed in the area. The information has been reported by Spurnik Armenia.
Observers note that a diverse group, including activists, bloggers, journalists, and representatives of public organizations, frame their actions around what they describe as environmental concerns.
Armenian Ambassador Edmon Marukyan took to social media to characterize the protesters’ moves as provocative. He remarked that ecological activists had shut down the sole road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. He expressed hope that the situation would not trigger a humanitarian crisis and that common sense would prevail.
Artur Khachatryan, a member of the Armenian parliament’s National Assembly, argued that the road closure represents pressure on the population of Artsakh. He described it as a new diplomatic and political maneuver by Azerbaijan aimed at influencing the people there to concede defeat.
He noted that a previous attempt to block the corridor had occurred on December 3, but the route was reopened after discussions with the head of the Russian peacekeeping force in the region.
Alen Simonyan, the former Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, stated that Azerbaijan appears to be preparing the ground for further restriction of the Lachin corridor, which serves as the link between Nagorno-Karabakh and southern Armenia. The remarks reflected concern over potential future limits on movement and supplies for the enclave’s residents.