Refugees from Karabakh create traffic jams on Stepanakert-Goriz highway

YEREVAN, September 25, /ARKA/. Hundreds of Nagorno-Karabakh ethnic Armenians with access to cars and fuel are leaving the region after the Sept.19 Azerbaijani offensive that left hundreds of local people killed and more wounded.

The exodus has created huge traffic jams on the road leading from Karabakh capital Stepanakert to the nearest Armenian town of Goris, the Nagorno-Karabakh Information Center said.

According to it, as a result, ambulances transporting people with serious wounds to Armenian hospitals are facing serious difficulties.

It said also that in order to get fuel, citizens create big traffic jams in areas near petrol stations, paralyzing traffic and normal life activity in Stepanakert.

‘Given all this, we ask all to refrain from moving for the time being to avoid accidents and to save the lives of wounded persons," the Center said in a message to the people.

It noted that all citizens willing to move from Karabakh to Armenia will be given such an opportunity.

It said that under an agreement reached by Karabakh and Azerbaijani authorities, there are no set terms of relocation. First of all, those are being evacuated who as a result of military aggression, are left homeless and in a difficult situation.

‘The authorities will continue to stay on the ground and carry out state administration until they fully ensure the process of relocation of citizens who want to move to Armenia," the Center said.

Citizens willing to move to Armenia will be provided with free fuel at 5 gas stations in Stepanakert starting from 14:00 today.

On September 19 Azerbaijan launched an "anti-terror" operation in the region demanding that Karabakh's forces raise a white flag, disband their armed forces and dissolve their "illegal regime".

After 24-hour fierce fighting the ethnic Armenian authorities in Stepanakert gave in. Under the terms of the truce, outlined by Azerbaijan and the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent on the ground, Karabakh armed forces must commit to being completely disbanded as well as disarmed.

According to the Nagorno-Karabakh human rights defender’s office, more than 10 thousand people have been evacuated from the communities seized by Azerbaijanis, several thousand cannot find their missing relatives -women, children and elderly people.

As of 21:30 September 20, the number of casualties stood at 200, including children, the number of wounded at more than 400.

Azerbaijani officials and Karabakh’s Armenian representatives had two meetings for "re-integration" talks in the Azerbaijani towns of Yevlakh and Shushi. -0-