Statement on the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh

The Socialist International is deeply concerned about the growing humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh. The continuous blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan has caused an unbearable situation and humanitarian crisis for several months. The deprivation of food, medicine, gas, and electricity supply from Armenia is fast resulting to a situation of starvation and a humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

The Azerbaijani policy towards closure of the Lachin corridor since 12 December 2022, the interception of the operation of the only high-voltage power line feeding Nagorno Karabakh from Armenia since 9 January 2023 and the interception of gas supply since 21 March 2023 and moreover the total blockade since 15 June of 2023 has disastrous impact on life conditions of the indigenous Armenian population of the Nagorno Karabakh.

We note that since June 15, 2023 supplies of food, medicines, and other essential goods, previously carried out by the Russian peacekeeping forces and the International Committee of the Red Cross have been halted due to the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan. This continuous blockade violates the legally binding decisions regarding the Lachin corridor adopted by the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.

The Socialist International is also extremely worried about the reports and alerts about the imminent threat of genocide of the population of Nagorno Karabakh, raised by international prominent experts and relevant institutions, such as Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Luis Moreno Ocampo, the first Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

The Socialist International urges the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan to open Lachin corridor to ensure the transportation of people and goods from both directions immediately in accordance with its international obligations and legally binding decisions adopted by the international courts. We also urge our member parties from Armenia and Azerbaijan to work together to ensure a sustainable resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

We further call on the international community to expedite its efforts in calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to end the blockade of the Lachin Corridor.

In solidarity, for progress