Does Azerbaijan Have the Right to Control Movement in the Lachin Corridor? Russia's Foreign Ministry Responds

Azerbaijan guarantees the safety of citizens, vehicles, and cargo moving in both directions through the Lachin corridor. The command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent has established the rules for visits by foreign citizens and international organizations to the area of peacekeeping operations, which is well-known to both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides. This was stated by the Russian Foreign Ministry in response to the inquiry from 'Aravot' regarding the statement made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that they could block movement through the Lachin corridor at any time.

In a January 11, 2022, interview with Azerbaijani television, President Aliyev assessed the work of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, noting that there are many nerve-wracking moments in their operations, despite their positive functions. According to Aliyev, Baku has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction to the Russian side regarding illegal visits to Azerbaijani territories located within the temporary zone of responsibility of the peacekeeping contingent. Reminding of Valérie Pécresse's (candidate for the French presidency) visit to Artsakh, he stated that 'the Lachin corridor is under our control. You have been to Shushi, and you have seen it. We can stop any vehicle there, and no one can say anything. Therefore, similar incidents are utterly unacceptable and must be stopped.'

We request a comment on whether President Aliyev's claim is justified, considering that according to the 'November 9, 2020, statement on the cessation of fire in Nagorno-Karabakh,' the Lachin corridor is controlled by the Russian peacekeeping contingent for a period of five years. Does the Azerbaijani side indeed have the right to permit or prohibit movement in the area under the control of Russian peacekeepers?

The response from the Russian Foreign Ministry reminds that the Russian peacekeeping contingent is deployed along the contact line and in the Lachin corridor according to the statement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia on November 9, 2020, regarding the cessation of fire and all types of military operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. According to the 6th point of this Agreement, the Lachin corridor is under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Azerbaijan guarantees the safety of citizens, vehicles, and cargo moving in both directions through the Lachin corridor. The command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent has established the rules for visits by foreign citizens and international organizations to the area of peacekeeping operations, which is well-known to both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides. In particular, it is stipulated that reasonable notice must be provided to Russian peacekeepers about such visits in a timely and proper manner.