The RA Foreign Ministry stated the closure of the Lachin Corridor.

"On the morning of December 12, 2022, a group of the Republic of Azerbaijan, presenting themselves as environmental activists, set up tents near Shushi, blocking the normal and unhindered movement in the Lachin corridor, which the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the President of the Russian Federation on November 9, 2020, was established by the tripartite declaration to ensure the connection between Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia.

The propaganda preparations to close the Lachin Corridor started months ago. This provocation was organized by Azerbaijan's state authorities, aiming to cut off Nagorno Karabakh from the Republic of Armenia and, thus, from the outside world.

As a result of this operation, the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh have been deprived of the right to free movement, and Nagorno-Karabakh is facing the imminent threat of a food and humanitarian crisis.

The created situation is in direct contrast with point 6 of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, according to which:

a) The Lachin Corridor is under the control of the Russian peacekeeping troops in Nagorno-Karabakh,

b) The Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees the safety of the movement of citizens, vehicles, and cargo through the Lachin Corridor.

Thus, Azerbaijan grossly violates the international obligation assumed by it. This behavior of Azerbaijan shows its lack of intention to address the rights and security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh and to dialogue with Stepanakert for this purpose, and once again testifies to the continuation of official Baku's policy of subjecting Nagorno Karabakh to ethnic cleansing.

The blocking of the Lachin Corridor is the practical expression of many alarms that Azerbaijan has adopted a policy of genocide against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. The systematic violations and provocations of the cease-fire regime by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh make the ontological danger of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh more concrete.

We emphasize that the steady fulfillment of international commitments, including the obligations assumed by the tripartite declaration of November 9, 2020, the refusal of the use of force or the threat of the use of force, the strict observance of the ceasefire regime, the uninterrupted implementation of movement in the Lachin Corridor under the supervision of Russian peacekeepers are critical to the political solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. For the settlement, long-term peace and stability in the region, and peaceful coexistence of peoples.

We call the urgent attention of the entire international community, including the UN Security Council, the Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, and the member states, that Azerbaijan's actions may lead to a large-scale humanitarian disaster. We emphasize the necessity of launching or restarting the international mechanisms for ensuring the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. For this purpose, we will start consultations with international partners shortly," said the statement of the RA Foreign Ministry.