Azerbaijan established a checkpoint today, Sunday, on the only land route leading to the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, following claims of gunfire at the border between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated, "Appropriate measures have been taken to control the road from its beginning." It added, "Ensuring security at the border and guaranteeing safe passage on the road are the responsibilities of the Azerbaijani government and are essential for national security, state sovereignty, and the rule of law."
Armenia, for its part, pointed out that the checkpoint set up at the Khakari Bridge in the Lachin corridor constitutes a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement signed in 2020. Armenia called on Russia to implement the agreement that stipulates the Lachin corridor must be under the control of Russian peacekeeping forces. The Armenian Foreign Ministry stated, "We urge the Russian Federation to implement the trilateral statement," referring to the agreement mediated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Additionally, the U.S. government expressed that it is "deeply concerned" about the establishment of an Azerbaijani checkpoint on the only land route to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, stating, "The United States is deeply concerned that the establishment of an Azerbaijani checkpoint on the Lachin corridor could undermine confidence-building efforts in the peace process."
