Kremlin: peacekeepers are doing everything possible to ensure order in Karabakh

Russian peacekeepers are doing everything possible to ensure order in Nagorno-Karabakh, their actions are conditioned by the law and agreements of the parties, said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation.

At the briefing, a Kremlin representative was asked to comment on the statement by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh are not fulfilling their obligations, in particular, to control the Lachin corridor.

“Russian peacekeepers are doing everything possible to ensure order and tranquility in the territories where they work. They act exclusively in accordance with the spirit and letter of those relevant documents that have been signed between the countries. We will certainly continue to discuss this topic with our Armenian colleagues and allies,” Peskov said.

Previously Pashinyan declaredthat as a result of the “illegal blockade” by Azerbaijan, the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is extremely tense. “Baku’s actions are illegal and violate international obligations, in particular, the provisions of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020,” he said. The prime minister added that in Karabakh started food shortages due to the blockade of the Lachin corridor.

Azerbaijanis on December 12 for the second time since the beginning of the month blocked the Stepanakert-Goris highway in the Lachin corridor is the only transport artery connecting the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) and Armenia. According to the Azerbaijani side, the pretext for closing on December 12 was the need to check the cargo for the export of gold from mines actually controlled by the NKR.

On December 10, a group of Azerbaijani officials planned to visit the Drmbon and Kashen mines, which are in the zone of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers. But employees of the enterprise and local residents blocked the entrance for them. On December 12, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry sent a note to Moscow with a request to organize access to the deposits, accusing the Russian peacekeepers of inaction. On December 13, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported on negotiations Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh with representatives of Azerbaijan to unblock the Lachin corridor.