Newsletter of the Artsakh Government – Day 97 Under Blockade

Azerbaijani armed forces fired at villagers doing agricultural work in vineyards

On March 15, around 11:00 a.m., the Martuni regional department of the Internal Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh received a report that 3 citizens were engaged in pruning work in the vineyards near the area of “Khazazin Tak” in the Amaras Valley, when they came under fire from adjacent Azerbaijani combat positions. There are no casualties.

As a result of the shootings, agricultural work was stopped. The information about the incident was passed on to the Russian peacekeeping troops, which also officially recorded the ceasefire violation.

On March 14, 13 patients were transferred to Armenia by the International Committee of the Red Cross

Another 10 medical patients, who were referred to Armenia for treatment within the framework of the state order, returned to Artsakh with their companions.

Transfer of patients from Artsakh to Armenia continues to be carried out exclusively with the mediation and accompaniment of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

s of March 16, a total of 182 patients were transferred from Artsakh to Armenia by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Artsakh MFA issued a comment on the recent statements of the Azerbaijani president’s assistant

Artsakh MFA commented on the thoughts expressed by Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, regarding the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, the negotiation process and a number of other issues.

In particular, the commentary states that the involvement of the international community in the dialogue between Artsakh and Azerbaijan is the only way to guarantee a comprehensive solution to the conflict. The Artsakh side categorically rejects Azerbaijan’s attempts to distort the essence of the conflict and present it as an internal problem.

At the same time, the Azerbaijani side continues to make false accusations that Armenia has not fully withdrawn its armed forces and continues to supply arms and ammunition to Artsakh. Such claims are untrue and are intended to justify the blockade of the Lachin Corridor which has now lasted for more than 90 days.

The National Assembly adopted the project on amending the Constitution of the Republic of Artsakh

Taking into account the imperative to ensure the security of the Republic of Artsakh, the new challenges facing the country, it is proposed to reserve the right to elect the president in the event of martial law to the National Assembly. The project was put to a vote and unanimously adopted in the first reading.

Personnel changes were made in Artsakh Government

On March 14, the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, signed decrees, according to which Samvel Avetisyan was released from the position of Minister of Health of the Republic of Artsakh. 

Vardan Nikolay Tadevosyan was appointed as the Minister of Health.

On March 16, the head of the country signed a decree according to which Norayr Mkrtchyan was appointed Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Artsakh Republic.

President Araik Harutyunyan met with members of the Public Council

The domestic political and socio-economic situation in the country was discussed. There was an exchange of ideas, the head of the country also answered the questions of the attendees.

Update of daily statistics

About 880 people have been deprived of the opportunity to receive necessary medical treatment due to suspension of planned surgeries in all medical facilities of Artsakh.

As of today, 182 patients have been transferred from Artsakh to Armenia to receive appropriate medical care with the mediation and accompaniment of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Due to the Red Cross not having an ambulance and only being able to transport patients with an ordinary vehicle, it is not possible to transport patients needing to lay down because Azerbaijan has obstructed the movement of Artsakh ambulances.

755 business entities (17.7% of the total) have suspended their activities due to the impossible operating conditions under the blockade, while the remaining operate partially or with state support.

At least 8,300 people have lost jobs and sources of income as a result of the impact on the economy.

More than 38,400 tons of vital supplies, which would have been delivered during the period of the blockade, have not reached Artsakh. Only a meager amount, about 3,370 tons of goods, mostly food and medicine, has since been delivered by the ICRC and the Russian peacekeeping forces.

During the blockade, the economy of the Republic of Artsakh suffered a loss of around 170 million US dollars, leading to decline of the predicted annual GDP index (903 million dollars) by more than 19 percent.

Key facts

Due to the shortages in food, 20 long-day educational institutions have been working partially since January 9, and in different periods, instruction of kindergartens and schools were also completely or partially stopped.

Since the beginning of the blockade, several types of food, specifically almost all types of vegetables and fruits, which were imported from Armenia, have faced drastic shortages and eventually became unavailable. Considering the shortages of food, a special coupon system has been in effect in Artsakh since January 20. Within the coupon system, limited volumes of pasta, buckwheat, rice, sugar, oil, fruits, vegetables, eggs, as well as non-food products like washing powder, are sold.

Since January 9, the only high-voltage power line between Armenia and Artsakh has been cut in the territory under Azerbaijani control. The Azerbaijani side does not allow Artsakh specialists to enter and restore the power supply. Taking into account that the volume of domestic electricity production, currently run on hydropower, is much less than consumption, and the water resources of the Sarsang reservoir are decreasing, rolling blackouts have been instituted. From January 10 Artsakh switched to 2-hour blackouts, from January 17 to 4-hour blackouts, and since January 21 residents experience 6 hours of blackouts each day.

Since the beginning of the blockade, many countries and international organizations have condemned Azerbaijan’s actions and called for the lifting of the blockade. This issue was also discussed in the UN Security Council while the European Court of Human Rights ordered Azerbaijan to take all necessary and sufficient measures to end the blockade. The issue will soon be considered in the UN International Court of Justice (The Hague) as part of the proceedings of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

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