We have received reliable information that plans are being developed to allow exit from Nagorno-Karabakh and prevent entry. Pashinyan

We have received reliable information that plans are being developed to unilaterally open the Lachin Corridor, that is, to allow exit from Nagorno Karabakh and prevent entry. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this today, August 24, at the Government session.

He reminded that at this moment there are many residents of Artsakh who cannot return to the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. "About 5,000 of them as a result of the illegal closure of the Lachin Corridor since December last year, and another 30,000 as a result of non-fulfillment of point 7 of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020. The non-fulfillment of this provision and other facts continuously prove that Azerbaijan's main goal is to remove Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh by means of ethnic cleansing, be it through starvation, famine, military operation or other means.

Pashinyan noted that the information they have indicates that Baku continues to torpedo the dialogue with Stepanakert by various means, trying to place the responsibility on the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

"The Armenian position remains the same. Issues related to the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh should be addressed through the Baku-Stepanakert dialogue within the framework of international mechanisms. It is also essential to implement the 7th point of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, which provides for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons not only to the territory of Nagorno Karabakh, but also to neighboring regions. This means that not only the Armenians of Hadrut, Martakert, a number of villages, a number of Martuni villages, but also Getashen, Martunashen, Shahumyan and other regions will have the opportunity to return to their homes with dignity and safety," said the Prime Minister.