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Moscow criticizes Baku’s decision to install a “border post” in the Lachin corridor
24 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Russian Government has demanded this Monday that Armenia and Azerbaijan avoid “unilateral actions” and has criticized Baku’s decision to install a “border post” in the Lachín corridor, which connects Armenian territory with the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno Karabagh , amid a new rise in bilateral tensions in the area, the scene of a large-scale conflict in 2020.
“We express our grave concern about the situation in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno Karabagh, on the Armenian-Azerbaijani contact line and in the dialogue between Baku and Yerevan,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. that it has asked the parties to “immediately return to the existing agreements”. “We start from the assumption that the local population should not suffer and that there should be no obstacles to their livelihood,” he added.
“In the context of the latest events of April 23, we especially highlight the unacceptability of unilateral steps that violate the basic clauses of the tripartite communiqué (…) of November 9, 2020, whether they are uncoordinated changes in the mode of operations in the Lachín corridor or his attempt to use it for other purposes that are not in line with the peace agenda,” he explained.
Thus, through a statement published on its website, it has pointed out “extreme concern” about “the number of violations of the ceasefire, which cause casualties on both sides on a regular basis” and has lamented “the accusatory and aggressive rhetoric “in both countries. “We believe that many of the problems that have arisen are the result of many months of inactivity and the lack of progress in the negotiation process on the main tracks of the trilateral agreements (…), including the unblocking of transport,” he argued. she.
Moscow has outlined that other pending issues are “the launch of the border delimitation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the harmonization of the parameters of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia.” “We hope that Baku and Yerevan will show political will and can overcome this negative trend in the near future,” she stressed, before showing her “willingness” to give “all necessary assistance” to make progress.
“We also warn external Western actors and local Russophobic elements working on their opportunistic agenda against attempts to agitate the situation, including through a denigrating campaign against Russia,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The Azeri Border Guard announced on Sunday the installation of a “border post” in the aforementioned corridor — where Russian military are deployed as peacekeepers under the 2020 ceasefire agreement — in response to the “transportation of personnel, ammunition, mines and other military equipment from Armenia to illegal Armenian armed groups in Azerbaijan”, accusations denied by Yerevan.
Armenia called on Russia on Sunday to exercise its role as a guarantor of peace and demand the withdrawal of this position for going beyond “provocation” to become “a flagrant violation” of one of the fundamental provisions of the ceasefire. “We call on the Russian Federation to finally fulfill its obligation by removing the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor and ensuring the withdrawal of Azeri forces from the entire security zone of the Lachin corridor,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.
On the other hand, the Azeri Foreign Ministry reiterated that the decision to install this checkpoint “is legitimate and complies with all the norms of International Law”, as well as with the conditions of the agreement, understanding that this installation responds to the Azeri commitment to “guarantee the safety of citizens, vehicles and moving goods” along the corridor.
