Azerbaijan's Political Leadership Has Directed the Closure of the Lachin Corridor Since November: Reports from the Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh

The institutions of Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh have released an urgent report on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, featuring updated data.

Yesterday evening, the joint report of the two institutions was published in English, detailing the repercussions of the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, which has now entered its 16th day. The report summarizes the Azerbaijani public discourse and analyzes statements made by Azerbaijani officials, concluding that the Azerbaijani political leadership has been preparing and directing public opinion in favor of the blockade of the Lachin humanitarian corridor since November, employing official and quasi-official information channels and tested methods of information manipulation.

Methods aimed at inciting xenophobia and ethnic hatred towards the Armenian population of Artsakh have been widely utilized by the Azerbaijani propaganda machine, attempting to frame these actions within a false narrative of environmental concern.

The report also updates new findings regarding participants of the so-called environmental protests and outlines the state of rights amidst the created humanitarian crisis. According to established practices, the report will be presented to international organizations and actors with a human rights mandate, and will also be made available to international judicial bodies, where, among other things, Armenia's demand to cease the blockade of the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the world is being pursued.