10:40,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. Demonstrators in Los Angeles, California rallied outside the consulates-general of France and China and the British consul’s residence demanding the countries to take action at the forthcoming UN Security Council meeting on Nagorno-Karabakh to end the blockade and prevent genocide.

The demonstrators called on France, China and the UK to vote in favor of stopping the genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh.

One of the demonstrators, Davit Mnatsakanyan, said he expects the main actors to force Azerbaijan to open the Lachin Corridor.  

“There’s already a case of fatal starvation in Artsakh, we can’t be idle in this situation,” Mnatsakanyan said.

He said the demonstrators would also protest outside the Azeri consulate.

[see videos]

 10:56,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. The United States has urged Azerbaijan to restore free transit through Lachin Corridor amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“We remain deeply concerned about the continued closure of the Lachin corridor, specifically its closure to commercial, humanitarian, and private vehicles,” United States Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a press briefing. “The halting of this kind of humanitarian traffic, in our opinion, it worsens the humanitarian situation and it undermines the efforts that have been in place to build confidence in the peace process. And so we urge the Government of Azerbaijan to restore free transit of commercial, humanitarian, and private vehicles through this corridor. We’re also aware that the UN Security Council has a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, and we expect further discussions to take place there as well,” he added.

Asked on the U.S.’s position on that very issue at the UN, Patel said, “I’m not going to get ahead of the meeting…but we have consistently emphasized and reiterated the fact that direct dialogue is essential to resolving this longstanding conflict, and we think that any engagements that ultimately bring peace and stability to the people of South Caucasus would be a good thing and a positive step forward.”

 11:40,

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. Demonstrators in Nagorno-Karabakh are holding a peaceful protest since August 15 outside the Russian peacekeeping contingent’s headquarters in Stepanakert.

Artur Osipyan, one of the leaders of the demonstrators who are united under a group calling itself the People’s Movement for Unblocking the Corridor, told ARMENPRESS correspondent Van Novikov that their goal is to lift the blockade of Lachin Corridor and that they are calling on the Russian peacekeepers to ensure the safety of a caravan which they plan to organize in the direction of Hakari bridge in a peaceful demonstration.

“We had appealed to the peacekeepers before with a letter. We are not telling them to go and lift the blockade, we are demanding them to ensure the safety of our peaceful procession to Hakari bridge and to try and resolve the issue in unity. But they gave an absurd response to our letter. As a sign of protest, we went and closed the entrance to their deployment site until they start treating us seriously and not try to make us abandon our goal,” Osipyan said, calling on others to join their movement.

The Russian peacekeepers unsuccessfully attempted to open the entrance to their HQ.

 12:51,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. France will provide an addition €3,000,000 to support the humanitarian activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Nagorno-Karabakh, the French foreign ministry said in a readout of the call between the Armenian and French foreign ministers.

Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, expressed deep concern about the fact that the population of Nagorno-Karabakh has been suffering for more than eight months as a result of the blockade of Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.

Colonna noted with regret that Azerbaijan continues its blockade, which contradicts its obligations within the framework of the ceasefire agreement and harms the negotiations process.

Reiterating her call made during her April 27 and 28 trips to Azerbaijan and Armenia, she said that outstanding issues can only be solved through negotiations, which would give the chance to achieve just and lasting peace.

The French Foreign Minister reiterated her call on restoring the free movement of people and goods in both directions along the Lachin Corridor and uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies to the population.

FM Colonna said that Azerbaijan must fulfill its international obligations, particularly comply with the ICJ February 22 binding order.

The ministers also discussed the Azerbaijani cross-border shooting that happened on the Armenian border on August 15 during an EU monitoring patrol. The French foreign minister expressed concern about the shooting and expressed full support to the EU mission.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations.

On July 26, Armenia sent a humanitarian convoy carrying emergency food and medication for Nagorno-Karabakh, but Azerbaijan blocked the trucks at the entrance of Lachin Corridor.

 13:20,

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. A farmer in Nagorno-Karabakh came under Azerbaijani gunfire on August 15 while working in the grain fields, the Nagorno-Karabakh police said in a statement.

The farmer was working with his combine harvester in grain fields Tuesday evening in the village of Avdur when Azerbaijani troops opened small arms fire from adjacent outposts.

The farmer, who escaped unharmed, is a resident of Myurishen village.

The combine harvester was hit multiple times. Police released photos of the bullet-riddled vehicle.

The farmers had to suspend agricultural work due to the shootings.

Nagorno-Karabakh authorities said they’ve notified the Russian peacekeepers on the shooting.

 13:32,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. A reservist of the Armed Forces of Armenia serving active duty in a military post as part of training musters has presumably gone AWOL, authorities announced Wednesday.

“On August 16, reservist G. V., according to preliminary information, voluntarily left his combat outpost. Search operations are underway to find the participant of the training musters,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

 14:42,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. The statement disseminated by the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan that the Armenian Armed Forces launched a sabotage infiltration attempt in the eastern part of the frontier zone is an absolute falsehood, the Armenian Ministry of Defense has announced.

Prior to this, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia made a statement regarding the reservist and participant of the training assembly G. V., who had left the combat position according to preliminary information, the defense ministry added in a statement on social media.

A possible version and all the circumstances of the reservist appearing on the Azerbaijani side are being investigated.

 16:04,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense has released a video showing the moment when Azerbaijani troops approached a lost Armenian reservist to detain him, debunking Baku’s false accusations of sabotage. 

“The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia presents video footage showing how a group of servicemen of the Azerbaijani armed forces approaches the reservist G. V., who appeared on the Azerbaijani side in yet unclarified circumstances, first, talks to, then apprehends him and takes by car to an unknown direction,” the Armenian Ministry of Defense said in a statement. “This video footage refutes the falsehood of the MoD of Azerbaijan as if the group of the Armed Forces of Armenia attempted a sabotage infiltration in the eastern part of the frontier zone, whose “actions were stopped by shooting.” All the circumstances of G.V. disorienting in the terrain and appearing on the Azerbaijani side are being investigated,” the ministry added.

 16:40,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. Politicians, writers, and human rights advocates from Turkey have united to issue a plea to the global community, urging immediate intervention to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh caused by Azerbaijan’s blockade, Gercek News reports.

The heart of the appeal lies in the conviction that waiting for a humanitarian disaster to unfold before acting is unacceptable.

“As the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan on the Lachin corridor enters its eighth month and the once-vibrant region of Nagorno-Karabakh is teetering on the brink of a dire humanitarian crisis, a group of Turkish intellectuals, writers, politicians, and human rights advocates has united to issue a compelling appeal to the global community, urging immediate intervention to alleviate the suffering and prevent a potential catastrophe.

“The relentless blockade, endorsed by the Baku government and bolstered by Ankara’s support, has not only isolated the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh but has also instilled concerns of a looming genocide. This grave situation has prompted a group of influential Turkish figures to raise their voices, advocating for international action to halt the blockade and offer a lifeline to the beleaguered residents.

“It is evident that essential supplies are unable to reach Karabakh, and residents are trapped without access to urgent medical care. As the crisis deepens and in confirmation of international concerns, Baku’s dictator Ilham Aliyev continues to openly and continuously threaten the people of Karabakh. To such an extent that the former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, published a significant article characterizing Aliyev’s actions in Karabakh as genocide,” the statement by the group said and called on all states, international organizations, particularly the United Nations and the International Red Cross, and the international public to take a proactive stance.

Drawing a historical parallel from the World War II, “Just as the Berlin blockade was broken through airlifts in 1948-49, we call for the breaking of the Karabakh blockade through air supply routes, thus putting an end to this humanitarian tragedy,” the statement added.

The signatories are:

Abdullah Demirbas, Abdulhakim Das, Adnan Canguder, Adnan Celik, Ahmet Aykac, Ahmet Konuk, Akin Atauz, Akin Birdal, Alev Er, Alex Koskeryan, Ali Gokkaya, Ari Gunter, Asli Erdogan, Attila Tuygan, Ayse Hur, Ayse Yildirim, Aysegul Devecioglu, Baskin Oran, Bayram Kaya, Celal Baslangic, Cengiz Aktar, Cengiz Arin, Denis Dreisbusch, Dogan Ozguden, Emrah Cilasun, Erdal Dogan, Erdogan Kahyaoglu, Eren Keskin, Ergun Babahan, Erol Ercan, Eser Budak, Esra Mungan, Fatime Akalin, Fikret Baskaya, Garo Kaprielyan, Gencay Gursoy, Gungor Senkal, Gurhan Ertur, Hacer Ansal, Hasan Burgucuoglu, Hatice Yildiz, Hidir Celik, Hovsep Hayreni, Huseyin Habip Taskin, Ibrahim Seven, Inan Gedik, Inci Tugsavul, Ira Tzourou, Kemal Bilget, Kemal Hur, Kemal Yalcin, Kenan Yenice, Mahmut Konuk, Mehmet Ali Balta, Nafiz Ozbek, Necati Abay, Nedim Kibar, Nesim Ovadya Izrail, Nesrin Nas, Nevzat Onaran, Nurcan Baysal, Nurten Kirmizigul, Okan Kucukersan, Osman Okkan, Oya Baydar, Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, Omer Madra, Racho Donef, Ragip Duran, Ragip Zarakolu, Ramazan Gezgin, Recep Marasli, Sait Cetinoglu, Sait Oral, Selahattin Kocak, Selay Ertem, Selma Kociva, Serdar Kocman, Sibel Yigittekin, Saban Iba, Sakir Bilgin, Samil Altan, Sanar Yurdatapan, Sukriye Ercan, Taner Akcam, Ulku Cevik, Viktorya Ciprut, Yalcin Ergundogan, Yasemin Gedik, Yasar Kucukaslan, Yavuz Aydin, Yavuz Baydar, Yetvart Danzikyan, Yildiz Aydin, Yusuf Kose, Zarife Atik, Ziya Ozder.

 17:37,

YEREVAN, 16 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 16 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.69 drams to 385.97 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.34 drams to 421.36 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.06 drams to 4.00 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.48 drams to 491.73 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 40.99 drams to 23625.30 drams. Silver price down by 4.41 drams to 278.09 drams.