Russia Demands Azerbaijan to Reopen Lachin Corridor

Russia demanded Azerbaijan on Friday to fully open the Lachin corridor, which connects Armenia to the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova noted that Azerbaijan closed the entrance to the corridor in a move that "escalated tensions," at a time when Azerbaijan and Armenia are trying to agree on a peace treaty. Zakharova stated, "Such steps exacerbate tensions and do not help maintain a normal atmosphere around the ongoing process of normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia with the help of Russia. We call on Baku to fully open the Lachin corridor." Baku denied imposing a blockade, stating that it had taken what it called "measures related to the investigation of the causes of this provocation, and also to ensure the security of the border checkpoint." Reports indicate that the corridor was completely closed after June 15 when gunfire was exchanged in an incident in which both countries stated in separate statements that one Azerbaijani and one Armenian border guard were injured.