U.S. weighs in on Azerbaijan’s detention of sick Karabakh civilian

PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States is aware of the “detention” of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) citizen Vagif Khachatryan at the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijani border guards when being transported by the International Committee of the Red Cross to Armenia for treatment, the U.S. State Department said Monday, July 31 in response to a request from the Armenian service of Voice of America.

The State Department added that overall, the United States remains deeply concerned about Azerbaijan's continued closure of the Lachine Corridor – the only route connecting Nagorno-Karabah to Armenia -- to commercial, humanitarian, and private vehicles.

The Department argues that peace in the region must include the protection of the rights and security of the people of Nagorno –Karabakh.

Also Monday, Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the United States continues to talk about a peace agreement and “we continue to believe that a peace agreement is within reach.”

“However, we have always said that for it to be within reach both parties have to make difficult compromises, and that’s why the Secretary has been remained engaged in talking to the leaders of both Armenia and Azerbaijan to encourage them to make those difficult compromises so we can – they can reach an agreement,” Miller added.

Since December 12, 2022, the sole road connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia - the Lachin Corridor - has been blocked by Azerbaijan. Baku tightened the blockade on June 15, 2023, banning emergency relief supplies that were carried out by Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross through the sole road connecting Karabakh to Armenia and the outside world. The move aggravated the shortages of food, medicine and other essential items experienced by the region’s population.