No Progress on Reopening the Only Highway Connecting Artsakh to the World, Says President

On January 18, an expanded meeting of the Security Council was held under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, which also included representatives from political forces in the National Assembly.

During the meeting, the consequences of the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, which has lasted for 38 days due to the blockade of the Stepanakert-Goris highway by Azerbaijan, were presented, and mechanisms for overcoming these issues were discussed.

The President informed that on January 15, communication with the Azerbaijani side was organized through Russian mediation to resolve the situation. However, no progress has been made towards reopening the only highway connecting Artsakh to the outside world. Instead, on January 17, new serious problems arose due to disruptions in gas supply.

During the Security Council meeting, the necessity of aligning socio-economic measures with the current crisis situation was emphasized. The President has given directives to heads of authorized state structures. The head of the operational staff, State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, will soon present specific proposals aimed at ensuring the continued livelihood of the population under blockade conditions and overcoming the humanitarian crisis.