U.S. Congressmen call on Biden Administration to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan

A powerfully worded U.S. Congressional letter to President Joe Biden, spearheaded by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), called for decisive U.S. action in response to Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh, a bipartisan reaffirmation of demands to stop U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan and restart humanitarian assistance to the Armenians of Artsakh, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reported.

Since December 12th, Azerbaijan has imposed a blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) to Armenia. The effect has been devastating to the population, rendering 120,000 individuals without access to the route that provides much of Artsakh’s food, medical supplies and transport, and other essential goods, and depriving them of their right to free movement. Additional reports allege that Azerbaijan has also shut off one of the major sources of natural gas for civilians in the territory, potentially leaving tens of thousands without heating as temperatures plummet.

Galust Sahakyan, the former Speaker of the National Assembly, died

Galust Sahakyan, the former speaker of the National Assembly, died. The news was confirmed by the Republican Party of Armenia. Galust Sahakyan was born in 1948 or on April 8. He was a member of the Council of the Republican Party of Armenia, and from 2014-2017 he was the Speaker of the RA National Assembly. He had a serious illness.

Pope Francis expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

Pope Francis commented on the situation on the Lachin corridor and expressed his concern about the crisis in South Caucasus.

"Around 120.000 Armenians, including 30.000 children, live in the enclave, and the alleged road closure has isolated them from the world and deprived them of food, medicine, and basic necessities. Families have reportedly been separated, and many are unable to reach Armenia for adequate medical treatment. I am concerned about the precarious humanitarian conditions of the people, which are in further danger of deteriorating during the winter season," he said. 

We are still blocked but we continue to work, people have the will to go through all this calmly and it does not feel like we are under blockade - Ruben Vardanyan 

We continue to work, nothing has changed, we continue to be blocked, and despite these difficulties, I am very excited because I see both the will and the readiness in people to go through this situation calmly: to work, live, and in no way does it feel like we're in a blockade, panicked, or depressed. And for that I am thankful, Artsakh Minister of State Ruben Vardanyan said this through a live broadcast on his Facebook page.

He said that yesterday he had a meeting with the deputies and the head of the administrative region in Martakert.

"This is very important for me, I was filled with energy by seeing people's attitude to the situation we are all in. We had the opportunity to communicate about very difficult issues and there was no problem, everyone was ready for everything, we are united and that was the most important thing," he said.

Other News

• Nikol Pashinyan sent congratulatory messages on the occasion of the National Day of Qatar.

• Doctors carried out an action in front of the UN Armenian office against Azerbaijan's blockade of the people of Artsakh.

• Azerbaijan continues to spread disinformation.