The Human Rights Defenders (HRD) of Armenia and Artsakh have published a report refuting claims by Baku that the Azerbaijanis now blocking the Lachin Corridor are environmental activists and are not acting under instructions from the Azerbaijani government.

The report, entitled The Humanitarian Consequences of Blocking the Only Road Connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the World, will be sent to international and regional organizations and other actors involved in the resolution of the conflict.

“We appeal to governments, international and regional organizations with a mandate to protect human rights, and other actors involved in the resolution of the conflict to take all possible measures to stop the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh that is deepening day by day,” said Artsakh HRD Gegham Stepanyan and Armenian HRD Kristinne Grigoryan.

“As the Lachin corridor is the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the outside world, and as of great humanitarian importance, its blocking is causing, and will further cause, grave humanitarian consequences. Currently, food, medical and energy supplies to Artsakh are completely stopped. About 400 tons of essential goods, including grain, flour, vegetables, fruits, economic goods, etc., are imported to Artsakh from Armenia daily,” the report reads, adding that patients needing emergency medical care cannot be transferred to Armenia.

 The report also notes that Azerbaijani authorities have also cut off the natural gas supply to Artsakh, depriving the peaceful population of Artsakh from heating, hot water, and other necessities.

“Moreover, many the ‘environmental activists’ are representatives of Azerbaijani NGOs directly and exclusively financed by the Azerbaijani government or the Heydar Aliyev Fund headed by the first vice president and first lady of Azerbaijan. Furthermore, evidence has been registered that representatives of Azerbaijani special services are also among them,” the report reads, identifying several of the so-called eco-activists.