The Artsakh Foreign Ministry issued the following statement on today's closure of the Stepanakert-Goris highway by Azerbaijan.

In the afternoon of December 3, the Azerbaijani side resorted to another provocation, blocking the Stepanakert-Goris highway at the Shoushi-Karin Tak crossroad, thus cutting off Artsakh's connection with Armenia and communication with the villages of Berdadzor sub-region of the Shoushi region.

This terrorist act once again proves that Azerbaijan's primary goal has remained unchanged - to deport the Armenians of Artsakh, to carry out ethnic cleansing and genocide there.

This terrorist move also undermines the internationally agreed arrangement on the Lachin Corridor and strikes a sneaky blow to the peacekeeping mission of the Russian Federation ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Azerbaijan's genocidal policy and actions are a serious challenge to the civilized world and obvious disrespect and disregard of international law. We call on the international community to strictly condemn the Armenophobian state policy of Azerbaijan and take active steps to deter the aggressor.