TBILISI -Russia expressed concern on Thursday over escalating tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a key street linking Armenia to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave remained blocked for the fourth day.
The 2 international locations have fought repeated wars over Nagorno-Karabakh – internationally recognised as a part of Azerbaijan however residence to about 120,000 ethnic Armenians – for the reason that 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. As just lately as September, greater than 200 troopers had been killed in a flare-up of combating.
A gaggle of Azerbaijanis claiming to be environmental activists blocked the Lachin hall, the one land route for folks, items, meals and medical provides to succeed in Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia throughout Azerbaijani territory, at the beginning of this week.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated on Thursday that the closure of the passage was a “gross violation” of a 2020 peace settlement between Baku and Yerevan and that the inhabitants of the enclave had been made into hostages.
Armenia says the protesters have been dispatched by the Azerbaijani authorities in an try to dam Armenia’s entry to the area. Baku rejects these claims, saying the dispute is over unlawful Armenian mining in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The standoff is a check of Russia’s authority as the primary safety guarantor within the area at a time when its struggles within the warfare in Ukraine danger undermining its top-dog standing amongst former Soviet republics within the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
The Azerbaijani protesters have managed to blockade the street regardless of the presence of Russian peacekeepers from a 5,000-strong pressure that Moscow despatched in late 2020.
Russian Overseas Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed Moscow’s concern over the state of affairs and stated it anticipated the path to be cleared quickly.
“Russia’s defence ministry and the Russian peacekeeping contingent have been actively working to de-escalate the state of affairs and we anticipate full transport hyperlinks to be restored within the very close to future,” Zakharova instructed reporters.
Russia is an ally of Armenia by way of a mutual self-defence pact, however tries to keep up heat relations with Azerbaijan and has rejected calls by Yerevan to supply army assist.
The U.S. State Division stated on Tuesday that the closure of the Lachin hall “has extreme humanitarian implications and units again the peace course of”, and referred to as on Azerbaijan to revive free motion.
The European Union additionally expressed “critical concern” over the deteriorating state of affairs, urging Azerbaijan to revive free and safe passage.
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