NAGORNO-KARABAKH’S BLOCKADE HAS DESTRUCTIVE CONSEQUENCES: US SENATORS
The blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh has devastating consequences for an already vulnerable region that is still recovering from the aftermath of the 2020 Azerbaijani offensive. Bob Menendez and Jack Reed wrote in a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The US senators note: “Despite claims that the blockade is carried out by “eco-activists”, the real responsibility lies with the Aliyev regime. Moreover, the Russian forces entrusted with peacekeeping have clearly failed to fulfill their obligations.”
The senators presented to the Secretary of State the reports of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Human Rights Defender about the goals and consequences of the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. It is noted that there is a shortage of food in Artsakh, which is a cause for serious concern. “The United States must take steps to restore the free supply of humanitarian and essential goods to the besieged population. We must support organizations that are working to provide aid, and we must work with our partners in Europe, who have also expressed concern about Baku’s actions, to pressure the Aliyev regime to end the blockade,” the US senators said.
SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJAN HAS NOT IMPROVED: HRW
The state of human rights in Azerbaijan in 2022 has not improved, according to the 2022 report of the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch
The report says that although in May 2022, Azerbaijani authorities released more than 20 political prisoners, at least 30 remain imprisoned, and authorities continue to persecute their critics and dissidents. At the same time, legislative obstacles have been created for the independent activities of non-governmental organizations. Ilham Aliyev signed the new law on media, which limits the independence of the media.
The organization also referred to Azerbaijan's aggression against Armenia. “Military operations between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops broke out in mid-September, 2022, when Azerbaijan invaded Armenia. The video identified by Human Rights Watch shows the extrajudicial execution of at least seven Armenian soldiers, apparently by Azerbaijani forces,” the report said.
Human Rights Watch also writes that regularly occurring incidents endanger the safety of civilians living in the villages of Artsakh and along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
ILHAM ALIYEV IS ADAMANT: THE ECONOMIST
The Economist also covered developments around the Lachin Corridor. The newspaper writes that Nagorno-Karabakh is under blockade because a group of protesters, with the support of the Azerbaijani government, is holding actions on the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia. According to the publication, Azerbaijan is trying to take advantage of the favorable international situation.
“Against the background of the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the international pressure on Baku has intensified, but Ilham Aliyev is adamant. And the Azerbaijani society supports "eco-activists". Their actions are also considered as a disruption of the Russian peacekeeping mission,” the article says.
