Moscow expresses ‘serious concern’ over new Armenia-Azerbaijan tensions
Moscow, Russia (AFP):
Moscow on Monday expressed “serious concern” over fresh tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which have been locked for decades in a deadly territorial conflict.
The comments from the foreign ministry came a day after Azerbaijan set up a checkpoint on the only land link to the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh, sparking anger from Armenia.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the mountainous enclave of Karabakh that have left tens of thousands dead.
The majority-ethnic Armenian region is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan despite breaking away after the fall of the Soviet Union, with tensions regularly flaring between the two countries.
Moscow brokered a ceasefire after the latest bout of fighting in 2020, and posted peacekeepers along the sole road linking Karabakh to Armenia, the Lachin corridor.
“We express our serious concern about the situation within the zone of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Russian foreign ministry said.
The statement also warned against “unilateral steps” in violation of the ceasefire.
Tensions over the Lachin corridor have soared since last year, with Armenia accusing Azerbaijan of blockading the route and creating a humanitarian crisis in the mountainous enclave.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Azerbaijan must guarantee safe passage through the corridor.
Azerbaijan, however, said it set up the checkpoint on Sunday “to prevent the illegal transportation of manpower, weapons, mines.”
It added the checkpoint “shall be implemented in conjunction with the Russian peacekeeping force.”
‘Playing games’
Armenia denied the claims as a “far-fetched and baseless pretext” and said the move breached the ceasefire.
The country of three million people on Monday commemorated the 108th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
Clutching flowers and flags, thousands of Armenians gathered at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial, and many condemned Azerbaijan’s latest move.
Vrej Sarkis, a 45-year-old doctor, accused Azerbaijan of “playing games” with Armenians’ morale.
“They blocked this corridor so Armenians cannot come out from this region to visit their families in Armenia,” he added.
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