The created situation leads to catastrophic humanitarian consequences: the supply of food, energy, medicine and other necessities has been stopped…

The people of Artsakh have been under blocade for 24 hours now, cut off from communication with the outside world. The Azerbaijanis closed the Stepanakert-Goris road, which is the only way connecting Artsakh with outside world.

The created situation leads to catastrophic humanitarian consequences: the supply of food, energy, medicine and other necessities has been stopped, thousands of people are in isolation, about 1100 people are left on the road in cold winter conditions, without the opportunity to join their families, including 270 children.

This is another manifestation of the Azerbaijani ethnic hatred policy, which aims to terrorize the people of Artsakh, to extract concessions from Artsakh under the existential threats, and to impose its will. These are large-scale and gross violations of human rights, regarding which there is no proper international response until now.

I expect the active response of international actors, people should not be ignored, regardless of geopolitical realities and the political and economic interests of states.

Gegham Stepanyan

Artsakh Ombudsman