Armenia Considers Presence of International Fact-Finding Group in Nagorno-Karabakh Necessary, Says Pashinyan

The Armenian Prime Minister emphasized that Azerbaijan's decision to establish a checkpoint represents a gross violation of the November 9, 2020 agreement and the International Court of Justice's decision issued in February. This was stated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a joint press conference with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala today.

“The reason for this is that despite well-known agreements, Azerbaijan continues its policy of using force and the threat of force, constantly escalating the situation along the Armenian border, in Nagorno-Karabakh, and in the Lachin corridor,” said the Prime Minister.

According to Pashinyan, for the past four months, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been deprived of their right to free movement, Azerbaijan has disrupted gas and electricity supplies, and food is being sold in Nagorno-Karabakh only with coupons.

“This indicates that a humanitarian crisis has been established there,” Pashinyan added, stating that, according to the Armenian side's assessment, Azerbaijan's actions are preparations for the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In this context, Armenia finds the presence of an international fact-finding group in Nagorno-Karabakh and Lachin necessary.

It is noteworthy that since December 12, 2022, in the area of the crossroads between Shushi and Karin Tak, a group of Azerbaijanis in civilian clothes has blocked the Stepanakert-Goris highway connecting Artsakh to Armenia on environmental grounds.