The Artsakh government, against the backdrop of the closure of the Lachin Corridor and the halt of natural gas supplies, has closed most schools in the country and began rationing fuel as part of a new set of regulations inaugurated today.

Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, is a video address to citizens, announced that public buses and emergency vehicles will get priority access to fuel and that schools using gas for heating will be closed for the time being.

Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan today signed a directive limiting the right to move freely in Artsakh and establishing a special regime for exiting the territory if deemed appropriate.

The directive also restricts the right to freedom of assembly and prohibits strikes in accordance with the law.

Harutyunyan also appointed Vardanyan to head an “operational headquarters” to manage the crisis.