Category: 2023

 17:25,

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. Yesterday, on June 22, the Azerbaijani side engaged in another provocation and committed a criminal act by installing a concrete barrier to block the sole road connecting Artsakh and Armenia (Lachin Corridor), the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) InfoCenter said in a press release.

Furthermore, in addition to establishing an illegal checkpoint and obstructing the road with armored vehicles, Azerbaijan is now actively impeding any movement, including those by the Red Cross and peacekeepers.

This incident serves as yet another illustration of the Azerbaijani authorities' criminal intent to isolate the people of Artsakh from the rest of the world and employ various repressive measures.

 18:15,

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. According to the data of the income tax and social payments calculations submitted for May 2023 by taxpayers, the number of income-providing jobs was 718,266, which exceeded the index of the same month last year by 45 thousand and 42 or 6.7%, ARMENPRESS reports, the State Revenue Committee of Armenia informed on its "Facebook" page.

According to the settlement documents issued by taxpayers (including cash register receipts), in May, 2023, 55.3 million transactions with a value of 978.7 billion AMD were carried out, which exceeded the indicator of the same period last year by 3.6 million transactions or 7.1%, and by 186.2 billion AMD or 23.5% in terms of value.

 19:34,

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that Azerbaijan's blocking of the entrance to the Lachin Corridor is a violation of the joint declaration of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which leads to deepening of tensions, ARMENPRESS reports, Zakharova said, commenting on the situation around the Lachin corridor.

"In connection with the closing of the entrance to the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, we draw attention to the fact that such actions are a violation of the provisions of the November 9, 2020 declaration of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Such steps lead to the escalation of tension and do not contribute to maintaining a normal atmosphere in the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia with the support of Russia," said Zakharova.

Russia calls on Baku to completely unblock traffic through the Lachin Corridor, and also emphasizes the importance of the consistent implementation of the tripartite agreements.

Yesterday, June 22, the Azerbaijani side resorted to another provocation and criminal action, closing the only road between Artsakh and Armenia (Lachin Corridor) with a concrete barrier.

"In fact, in addition to the illegal checkpoint and blocking the road with armored vehicles, Azerbaijan is now demonstratively blocking the road, preventing any movement, including by the Red Cross and peacekeepers.

This incident once again demonstrates the criminal goals of the Azerbaijani authorities to completely isolate the people of Artsakh from the outside world and to use all methods of repression," said the press release of Artsakh's information headquarters.

 19:52,

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. The Artsakh Foreign Ministry issued a statement about the ongoing complete blockade of the country, calling on the parties that signed the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020, and first of all, the Russian Federation, to take all necessary measures to ensure the steady and full implementation of the assumed international obligations.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Artsakh, the statement reads as follows, “We draw the attention of the international community to the fact that for the 9th day in a row Azerbaijan continues the total illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, control over which, as provided for by paragraph 6 of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, has been assigned to the Russian Federation Peacekeeping Contingent.

We recall that due to the provocative actions of the Azerbaijani side and the subsequent complete blocking of the road through the Lachin Corridor, starting from 15 June, all transportation of humanitarian cargo by the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent, in particular food and other essential supplies required for the survival of the 120,000 population of the Republic of Artsakh, has been stopped. The International Committee of the Red Cross is not able to carry out evacuation of seriously ill patients from Artsakh to medical institutions of Armenia, as well as deliver vital medicines to the republic. As a result, small domestic stocks of food and medicine are quickly running out, which threatens to turn the situation in the republic into a humanitarian catastrophe. 
     
Moreover, on 22 June, the Azerbaijani side installed concrete blocks on the Hakari bridge, completely blocking the driveway of the only Road of Life connecting Artsakh with Armenia, and making it technically impossible for vehicles to move along the road. Thus, in just a month, Azerbaijan turned its illegally installed and advertised checkpoint on the road within the Lachin Corridor into a military stronghold with armoured vehicles, engineering barriers and armed personnel. It once again demonstrates that all the actions of the Azerbaijani side, including the orchestrated protest of pseudo-activists, blocking of the Stepanakert-Goris road, cutting off gas and electricity supplies from Armenia to Artsakh, targeting of civilians and obstruction of agricultural work in the fields, have been deliberate and pre-planned and are aimed to make the life of Armenians in Artsakh impossible.

The authorities of the Republic of Artsakh have repeatedly warned about the negative consequences of the illegal establishment of an Azerbaijani checkpoint for the safe and unimpeded movement along the Lachin Corridor, which is now, in fact, completely stopped, and 120,000 people in Artsakh, including 30,000 children, are held hostage in their own homes. Under these circumstances, overlooking or ignoring the real state of affairs on the ground, untargeted statements and appeals, as well as the lack of specific and adequate measures on the part of the international community only encourage the Azerbaijani authorities to continue and intensify their illegal and aggressive actions.

We call on the signatories of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, primarily the Russian Federation, to take all necessary measures to ensure the strict and full implementation of their international obligations. We appeal to the UN Security Council, which bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, as well as to all responsible members of the international community, including the leadership of individual countries and international organisations, to move from words to action and, within the universal Responsibility to Protect, undertake all necessary measures to stop the war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity committed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and its people”.

 20:15,

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. and considers it a direct threat to the livelihood of the local population and raises serious concerns about a possible humanitarian crisis, ARMENPRESS reports, reads the press release of the EU spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Nabila Massrali.

The EU has been closely following the growing tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the past few weeks, with daily shootings along the international border of the two countries, in addition to similar incidents along the Karabakh line of contact.

"The almost complete blocking of the Lachin Corridor since June 15 is very worrying. This directly threatens the livelihood of the local population and raises serious concerns about a possible humanitarian crisis.

Following a series of recent high-level meetings, the EU continues to engage at the highest political level to help ease these tensions and find mutually acceptable solutions," the message said.

Yesterday, June 22, the Azerbaijani side resorted to another provocation and criminal action, closing the only road between Artsakh and Armenia (Lachin Corridor) with a concrete barrier.

"In fact, in addition to the illegal checkpoint and blocking the road with armored vehicles, Azerbaijan is now demonstratively blocking the road, preventing any movement, including by the Red Cross and peacekeepers.

This incident once again demonstrates the criminal goals of the Azerbaijani authorities to completely isolate the people of Artsakh from the outside world and to use all methods of repression," said the press release of Artsakh's information headquarters.

 20:55,

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, together with his wife Anna Hakobyan, attended the funeral ceremony of Vigen Khachatryan, MP from the "Civil Contract" faction of the National Assembly, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

 21:48,

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. On June 23, Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan convened a meeting of the Security Council, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the President of Artsakh.  

Problems related to food security in the conditions of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan and their possible solutions were discussed.

State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan reported on the measures taken to overcome the situation created in the context of the suspension of humanitarian supplies. He also presented the programs launched in recent months and aimed at reducing foreseeble risks in the field of food security.

Minister of Agriculture Georgy Hayriyan presented the planned activities concerning the organizition of harvesting, procurement and supply of agricultural products considering the existing fuel shortages.

An exchange of views took place on the issues presented.