The Azerbaijani side deliberately obstructs the entry of citizens of RA registration into Artsakh at the illegally installed checkpoint on Hakari bridge. Gegham Stepanyan

2023-06-13 16:58:29

The Azerbaijani side has prevented the entry of RA citizens with registration to Artsakh, Artsakh HRD Gegham Stepanyan informs.

“The Azerbaijani side is deliberately preventing the entry of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Artsakh at the checkpoint illegally installed on the Hakari bridge of the Goris-Stepanakert highway (Lachin Corridor).

According to the data collected by the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, at least three similar cases have been recorded since the checkpoint was installed: two women and one child were prevented from entering. In all recorded cases, although the citizens had RA registration, they always lived in the Republic of Artsakh, and their families also live in Artsakh.

These persons went to the Republic of Armenia for treatment under the conditions of blockade and now, after solving their health problems, they cannot return to their homes. It is noteworthy that the Azerbaijani side allowed their exit from Artsakh, arbitrarily and illegally prohibiting their entry.

As a result of the harassment by Azerbaijan, the rights of these persons were violated not only to move freely, but also to reunite with their families.

The human rights defender emphasizes that the checkpoint illegally installed by Azerbaijan on the Hakar bridge in Lachin Corridor from April 23 and other measures hindering the free movement of people, vehicles and goods on that road violate not only the well-known international norms of human rights, but also the 2020 the provisions of the tripartite declaration of November 9, particularly point 6, which envisages the safe and uninterrupted movement of people, vehicles and cargo through the Lachine Corridor.

Azerbaijan is trying to deceive the international community with various propaganda videos, showing that the corridor is not blocked and the free movement of people is ensured. The presence of the checkpoint, the use of passport, cargo and other control measures by Azerbaijan already mean obstacles to uninterrupted movement, causing significant risks not only of security, but also of applying other arbitrary disruptive measures at any time. The recorded cases once again prove the bankruptcy of the Azerbaijani state propaganda and the systematic and consistent policy of ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh,” the statement said.

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