State Minister of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Ruben Vardanyan has welcomed a European Parliament resolution on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade of Nagorno Karabakh as "important".

The [European Parliament] adopted a resolution on the humanitarian consequences of the Nagorno Karabakh blockade by Azerbaijan. [The European Parliament] calls upon Azerbaijan to immediately open the Lachin Corridor and allow the freedom of movement between Armenia and Artsakh," Vardanyan said on Twitter.

"This is an important step in forcing Azerbaijan to end the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Artsakh/ Nagorno Karabakh. I express my heartfelt gratitude to all MePs of @Europarl_EN for their support for the Armenians in Artsakh."

The recent annual report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) of the European Parliament strongly denounces Azerbaijan’s “illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, in violation of the trilateral statement of 9 November 2020, as it threatens to precipitate an intentional humanitarian crisis for the people of Nagorno Karabakh”.

Since December 12, the sole road connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia - the Lachin Corridor - has been blocked by self-described Azerbaijani environmentalists. Karabakh residents have reported food and fuel shortages, while hospital patients don't have access to essential medicines, with only a handful allowed transfer to facilities in Armenia proper.