Commentary on the Closure of the Askeran-Aghdam Road in Artsakh

Residents of Artsakh have blocked the Askeran-Aghdam road with concrete barriers. The aim is to demonstrate that they are outright opposed to the importation of Azerbaijani goods, whether as "humanitarian aid" or very cheap products.

In an interview with an "Armenpress" correspondent, Arshak Abrahamyan, a founding member of the "Artsakh Security Development Front" public movement, discussed the protest action taken by the youth wing of the movement and a group of residents who blocked the Askeran-Aghdam road on July 18.

"We have clearly stated that this is a red line for us. Artsakh must maintain its social and economic ties solely with Armenia. Among our primary demands is the dismantling of the illegal Azerbaijani checkpoint established on the Hakari Bridge," Abrahamyan said, adding that given the current humanitarian crisis, they are demanding an urgent provision for a humanitarian air corridor as a short-term solution.

It is noteworthy that Azerbaijani high officials have recently mentioned their readiness to send aid to Artsakh through the Aghdam road. The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov specifically discussed this during a series of working meetings. European Council President Charles Michel also spoke about the possibility of using that road during a press conference following a meeting with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels on July 15.