A group of Azerbaijanis, claiming to be environment activists, continue to block the Goris-Stepanakert highway, the only land link between Armenia and Artsakh.

The Artsakh Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that cars driving to Stepanakert had been forced to stay in Goris.

The group wants an audience with Russian peacekeeping mission commander Major General Andrey Volkov to request access to two gold mines where they claim illegal mining is taking place.

The so-called environmental activists set up tents along a section of the roadway near the Azerbaijani controlled town of Shushi last night.

The Artsakh Security Council has decided to write to the command of the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed Karabakh to resolve the situation, arguing the road closure violates the November 2020 ceasefire agreement.