U.S. lawmakers: Azerbaijanis are only allowed to protest to threaten Armenians

PanARMENIAN.Net - Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., Gus M. Bilirakis, Jackie Speier, David G. Valadao, and Adam B. Schiff issued have a statement after troubling reports of Azerbaijanis blocking the sole road connecting the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-karabakh) to Armenia and posing huge risks to vulnerable populations:

"We condemn the aggressive actions taken by Azerbaijan in Nagorno Karabakh. It is disturbing that the only time the people of Azerbaijan are allowed to freely protest is when it threatens the lives of Armenians. Their blockade of the Lachin Corridor appears coordinated and intended to shut off the only remaining supply route for much of Artsakh's food, medical supplies and transport, and other essential goods, not to mention further restrict the people of Artsakh's freedom of movement. Additional reports allege that Azerbaijan has also shut off one of the major sources of natural gas for civilians in the territory, potentially leaving tens of thousands without heating as temperatures plummet, much like it did earlier this year in March,” reads the statement published on Tuesday, December 13.

"The shutting down, or even the threat of shutting down, of these vital lifelines by Azerbaijan is once again weaponizing critical infrastructure and manufacturing a humanitarian crisis for Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh. This follows a well-documented pattern of abuses against the Armenian people that is motivated by the bombastic rhetoric of the Aliyev regime to dehumanize them. We urge the United States and our European partners to use every diplomatic tool at their disposal to halt this clearly fabricated crisis created by Azerbaijan, bring Aliyev back to the negotiating table through the OSCE Minsk Group and other multilateral peace processes, and ensure that the people of Artsakh are included in these discussions."

On Monday morning, several Azerbaijani nationals, who claimed to be environmental experts, blocked passage through the Lachin corridor, the only road linking Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Yerevan slammed this step as a provocation staged by Baku to cause a humanitarian collapse in Karabakh.