Armenian Parliament “failed” opposition statement on Lachin corridor

The National Assembly of Armenia did not include on the agenda today, March 21, the draft statement of the opposition faction “Armenia” on the Lachin corridor.

The faction of the ruling party “Civil Contract” (DG, the leader of this political association is the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan) did not take part in the voting.

Presenting the draft statement, MP from “Armenia” Andranik Tevanyan stated that Azerbaijan is carrying out “military-political aggression, provocations and sabotage” against Nagorno-Karabakh, does not comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice to unblock the Lachin corridor.

The statement proposed by the opposition, according to Tevanyan, expresses full support for the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh, and notes the need to extend its mandate. The document also contains an appeal to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to remain steadfast in the struggle for their inalienable rights.

Deputy from the faction of the State Duma Maria Karapetyan in turn, she recalled that the Armenian parliament had already adopted a statement on the Lachin corridor on December 14. The pro-government deputies turned to their colleagues from the parliamentary opposition with a proposal to discuss the text of the new document, but the parties did not agree on a number of wordings.

Recall that the Lachin corridor, the only transport link between Nagorno-Karabakh and the outside world, has been blocked by Azerbaijani activists for more than three months, since December 12. According to the tripartite statement of the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan dated November 9, 2020, the 5 km wide corridor should be under the control of Russian peacekeepers.