Negotiations on resuming unimpeded traffic on the Stepanakert-Goris road continue - Russian Ministry of Defense

The Russian peacekeeping contingent continues to fulfill its tasks in Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to MoD Russia, Russian peacekeepers are conducting round-the-clock monitoring of the situation in 30 observation posts and monitoring of the ceasefire.

It is noted that the command of the Russian peacekeepers continues the negotiation process with the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides regarding the resumption of the unhindered movement of automobile transport along the Stepanakert-Goris road (Lachin Corridor - ed.).

The gas supply cut again in Artsakh 

Mesrop Arakelyan, the adviser to the Minister of State of Artsakh informed today that as of 13:00 the gas supply has been stopped in Artsakh and that Azerbaijan continues the actions aimed at the depopulation of Artsakh.

According to the information headquarters of Artsakh, "Azerbaijan has again blocked the only gas pipeline feeding Artsakh from Armenia, depriving the population of Artsakh of the opportunity to use natural gas."

In the evening. "Artsakhgas" company informed that at the moment appropriate preventive and rehabilitation works are being carried out in order to ensure gas supply. It is planned that the gas supply will be restored in the evening both in Stepanakert and in the regions.

"Artsakhgas" urges gas consumers to be careful and observe safety rules, and check gas valves.

France has reiterated its call to restore freedom and security of movement through the Lachine Corridor

The representation of France in the OSCE commented on the situation on the Lachin Corridor in a tweet.

"At the special permanent council of the OSCE in the presence of the Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan,  France reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional restoration of freedom and security of movement through the corridor of Lachin respecting the rights of the local population," the statement reads.

Davit Babayan was appointed adviser to the President of Artsakh

Davit Babayan, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh, was appointed Advisor to the President of the Republic of Artsakh. Babayan announced this on his Facebook page.

He noted that he will continue to serve the state and the people.

It should be reminded that Davit Babayan was dismissed from the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh on January 11. Sergey Ghazaryan, who was the permanent representative of Artsakh in RA, was appointed to that position.

The humanitarian crisis in Artsakh is intensifying day by day and requires the immediate intervention of the international community - Mirzoyan at the special session of the OSCE Permanent Council

On January 17, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan delivered remarks at the special session of the OSCE Permanent Council initiated by Armenia.

"Today, with the blockade of the Lachin corridor the Azerbaijani side created a humanitarian crisis with far going intentions.

On 12 December 2022, a group of Azerbaijanis claiming to be environmental activists blocked the Lachin Corridor, the lifeline, the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, thus effectively isolating the 120 thousand people in Nagorno-Karabakh, 30 thousands of which are children. Over 1000 people, including 270 children, are unable to return home to Nagorno-Karabakh. Some of those children are separated from their parents and were temporarily sheltered in Armenia.

From the very beginning, it was obvious that this blockade was a preplanned action directed and financed by the Azerbaijani authorities, using the cover of so-called “eco-activists” for plausible deniability.
These actions of Azerbaijan constitute an overt breach of paragraph 6 of the 9 November trilateral statement, which clearly indicates and I quote: “The Lachin Corridor shall remain under the control of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation; the Republic of Azerbaijan shall guarantee safe movement of citizens, vehicles, and cargo in both directions along the Lachin Corridor.”

For more than a month now, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh remain under factual siege. Food, medical and energy supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh are almost completely halted. About 400 tons of essential goods, including grain, flour, rice, vegetables, fruits, medicines, and baby formula, were imported to Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia daily. After around five weeks of the blockade, there is a severe shortage of all essential goods.

Lavrov emphasized the need for the complete restoration of traffic through the Lachin Corridor in a telephone conversation with Bayramov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry reports.
 
The parties discussed a number of current issues of bilateral and regional agenda.
 
"The Russian side emphasized the need for the immediate complete unblocking of traffic through the Lachin Corridor in accordance with the criteria laid down in the November 9 in 2020 high-level trilateral statement. The importance of reaching mutually acceptable solutions on all related issues was also emphasized, in order to resume the complex work of the key ways of the Azerbaijani-Armenian settlement based on the agreements of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia", said the message of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Other News

• On January 17, RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, who was in Vienna on a working visit, had a meeting with Austrian Federal Minister of European and Foreign Affairs Alexander Schallenberg.