Price on Azerbaijan's Closure of the Lachin Corridor

The spokesman for the U.S. State Department, Ned Price, has commented on the closure of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan. He stated that the closure of the corridor has serious humanitarian consequences and hinders the peace process.

“We call on the Azerbaijani government to restore the free movement through the corridor,” Price emphasized, noting that the path forward is through negotiations.

It is worth recalling that since December 12 at 10:30, a group of Azerbaijanis has closed the section of the Stepanakert-Goris highway between Shushi and Karintak under the pretext of environmental concerns, thus blocking the Lachin Corridor. Hundreds of citizens, including minors, have found themselves unable to return home. The transportation connections of the villages of Lisagor, Mets Shen, Hin Shen, and Yeghkhaogh in the Shushi region with the capital Stepanakert have been interrupted.

Azerbaijan also disrupted the gas supply to the Republic of Artsakh starting December 13. The gas supply was restored on December 16.