YEREVAN. April 27 (Interfax) - The Lachin corridor, which connects Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, belongs to Russia, Secretary of the Armenian Security Council Armen Grigoryan said.
"In accordance with the trilateral statement [on Nagorno-Karabakh] dated November 9, 2020 [signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan], the Lachin corridor belongs to Russia. Russian peacekeepers are deployed there," Grigoryan told the Public Television Company of Armenia.
When asked by a journalist whether the Lachin corridor "is controlled [by Russia] or belongs [to Russia]," Grigoryan said, "It belongs".
"The November 9 statement fully transferred the Lachin corridor to Russia, and it is Russia that bears responsibility for all developments taking place there. And Russia must act to ensure that the 120,000 Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh are not subject to ethnic cleansing. If issues are not resolved through talks, measures must be taken," he said.
The State Border Service of Azerbaijan reported on April 23 that a checkpoint had been installed on the border with Armenia at the entry to the Lachin-Stepanakert road.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on April 24 that negotiations were in progress between the peacekeeping contingent's command with the Azerbaijani side over the blocking of the Lachin corridor.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry condemned the installation of the checkpoint and called on Russia to fulfil its obligations arising from the statement made by Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020, on unblocking the Lachin Corridor, and ensure the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the problems are the result of a lack of progress in negotiations on implementing the trilateral agreements between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, adding that it expected Baku and Yerevan to "display political will and overcome these negative trends in the near future."