Samvel Karapetyan, President of Tashir Group, expresses concern over situation in Artsakh due to provocation of Azerbaijan

YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. Samvel Karapetyan, President of Tashir Group and the Association of Armenian Entrepreneurs, expressed concern over the situation in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) as a result of Azerbaijan's provocation.

"I am following with grave concern the developments surrounding another provocation of Azerbaijan. Artsakh has been in a virtual blockade for almost two days now. The only road from Armenia is blocked, the gas supply is completely cut off. Tens of thousands of civilians, including children, are blockaded, while others have no opportunity to return home. Medical institutions are deprived of medicine, fuel and food supplies have been cut off. Some 120,000 people have been isolated, and now Artsakh is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.

Azerbaijan uses methods of terror and blackmail, thus placing Artsakh civilians at risk of a virtual genocide, and blatantly ignores the Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in Artsakh. These actions must be duly evaluated.    

Armenians are indivisible wherever we are; we are one people and we share all our joys and trials. That's why I want to address words of support to the people of Artsakh and their authorities. Although the path of Artsakh has never been easy, and the last war was an incredible test for the people of Artsakh, Armenians are proud and strong people. Our spirit has not been broken after the numerous conflicts, nor will it be broken today.

All our efforts today are aimed at preventing a humanitarian crisis and helping people. I would like to especially stress that as before, I will stand by Artsakh and the Armenian people fighting for security and the right to live in peace, and I will continue to do my best for that," Karapetyan said in a statement provided by the press service of Tashir Group.

Artsakh has appeared in a de facto blockade, with the rights of thousands of its citizens being violated after Azerbaijanis blocked the Stepanakert-Goris interstate highway, the only road linking Artsakh with Armenia.

The road has been closed for the third day already. On the evening of December 13 Azerbaijan also discontinued the supply of natural gas to Artsakh closing the valve on the pipeline that pumps natural gas to Artsakh from Armenia. -0-