The Lachin corridor connecting Armenia and its satellite Nagorno-Karabakh is blocked by Azerbaijanis . The Russians promised that they would keep it under the control of Armenia.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in a conversation with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, accused Russian “peacekeepers” in Nagorno-Karabakh of inaction.
Pashinyan said this at the informal summit of CIS leaders in St. Petersburg.
“The most urgent issue is the crisis that exists in the Lachin corridor. For almost 20 days, the Lachin corridor has been blocked. This is the area of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Armenian prime minister said.
Pashinyan reminded Putin that, according to the tripartite statement of the presidents of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia, the Lachin corridor should be under the control of Russian peacekeepers.
“The Republic of Azerbaijan guaranteed the unimpeded passage of passengers and cargo along the Lachin corridor. that the Lachin corridor is not under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Of course, I would like to discuss this situation,” the Armenian prime minister added.
Why is the Lachin corridor important for Armenia
The Lachin corridor (5 km wide) is the only road connecting Armenia and its satellite Nagorno-Karabakh. On August 26, 2022, the corridor came under the control of Azerbaijan
On December 12, the Lachin corridor was closed to traffic due to the protest of Azerbaijani citizens. Pashinyan already then accused the Russian peacekeepers of failing to fulfill their duties.
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been going on since the 1990s. Fighting on the border of the two countries broke out again on September 13 this year. Yerevan accused Baku of shelling the southeastern border, and Azerbaijan, in turn, said that the Armenian military had mined supply routes.
The Russian so-called peacekeeping contingent appeared in Nagorno-Karabakh after the ceasefire agreement November 9, 2020 year, signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia. The contingent is located along the collision line in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor.
