Lavrov, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, during a telephone conversation today with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Baramov, stressed the need for the soonest complete unblocking of traffic along the Lachin corridor.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, in a statement on the telephone conversation, said Bayramov described Armenia’s claim that Baku had closed the roadway as “baseless”.

“Minister Bayramov pointed out that Azerbaijan guarantees the safety of the movement of citizens, vehicles and cargo on the Lachin road in accordance with its obligations, and that the road is open as evidenced in videos showing the movement of vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Armenian emergency medical services, vehicles of the peacekeeping contingent, as well as other vehicles,” the statement reads.

Bayramov, referring to the Azerbaijani “eco-activists” who have blocked the road for over one month now, said Azerbaijani citizens have a “legitimate right to protest against the illegal economic activities of Armenians in the territories of Azerbaijan, and that it was also important to fulfill the demands of the protesters on the prevention of military provocations.”

Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry