In order to endow the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh with a UN mandate, the agreement of Armenia and Azerbaijan is necessary, said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian President, responding to Nikol Pashinyan’s statement.

“International peacekeepers can be involved if both parties to the conflict agree, and it is not only Armenia but also Azerbaijan. You know that Armenia is one of our closest allies, and Azerbaijan is a very valuable and precious partner for us,” Peskov said, reports RIA Novosti.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this at the government session on December 29.

“If Russia is unable to ensure stability and security in Nagorno-Karabakh for objective or subjective reasons, then it should initiate a discussion in the UN Security Council to grant the Russian military contingent a UN Security Council mandate.”

Since December 12, Azerbaijan has closed the Lachin Corridor connecting Artsakh to Armenia, as a result of which 120,000 residents of Artsakh, including 30,000 children, are under blockade. 1100 civilians, including 270 minors, cannot return from Armenia to Artsakh.

Because of the blockade, it is not possible to deliver 400 tons of food and medicine to Artsakh every day from RA, as a result of which there is a shortage of food and medicine. On December 25, 10 tons of humanitarian cargo – children’s and other food, and medicine – was transferred from Armenia to Artsakh only once with the mediation of the ICRC. According to the Ministry of Artsakh, the medicine can satisfy the demand for 10 days.

350 patients cannot receive treatment in RA. 21 patients, including children, are in the intensive care unit. During these days, 5 Armenians and 4 foreigners in need of emergency medical care were transferred to RA only through the mediation of ICRC, and one of the patients in Artsakh who was in critical condition died.