Baku Explains Why it Closed the Only Highway Connecting Artsakh to Armenia

Shortly after the announcement about the closure of the Stepanakert-Goris highway, the official Baku reported that it had sent specialists to investigate and monitor the illegal extraction of mineral resources and the environmental consequences of such activities in the area of the temporary deployment of Russian peacekeepers.

It remains unclear which mineral resources are being referred to. According to Azerbaijani media, based on an application from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Defense had contacted the Russian peacekeeping force.

"Today at 11 a.m., employees of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Ecology, the State Property Service under the Ministry of Economy, and employees of the 'AzerGold' company approached the Russian peacekeeping checkpoint located between Stepanakert and Shushi to gain access to the area," Baku reported, adding that discussions are currently ongoing with the command of the peacekeeping forces regarding the investigation and monitoring of the illegal extraction of mineral resources and its environmental consequences.

It should be noted that today a group of Azerbaijani individuals in civilian clothing closed the Stepanakert-Goris highway, citing environmental reasons. The Artsakh Information Center issued a statement three hours ago, stating: "It is evident that Azerbaijan is using this step to provoke a disruption of land communication between Armenia and Artsakh and to subject the civilian population to psychological terrorism. The Russian peacekeeping command stationed in Artsakh has been duly informed about the incident. The authorized state bodies of Artsakh are taking all possible measures to stabilize the situation."

Shortly thereafter, the Ministry of Health of Artsakh announced that the closure of the highway by Azerbaijanis had made it impossible to transport medical supplies and medications to Artsakh.

Only after negotiations and mediation by Russian peacekeepers did the Azerbaijani side reopen the only highway connecting Artsakh to Armenia. Meanwhile, it should be emphasized that the highway was already congested, and citizens had been reporting this issue.