Azerbaijan Establishes Border Control Mechanism on Lachin Road Amid Illicit Activities by Armenia
23 April 2023
The Government of Azerbaijan has taken measures to establish control at the starting point of the Lachin-Khankendi road on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The move comes in response to continued systematic use of the road for illicit purposes by the Armenian side, in violation of the Trilateral Statement of November 10, 2020, and resulting security threats.
The Azerbaijani government has raised concerns about the abuse of the Lachin road by Armenia, including the rotation of personnel of Armenian armed forces that continue to be illegally stationed in the territory of Azerbaijan, the transfer of weapons and ammunition, entrance of terrorists, as well as illicit trafficking of natural resources and cultural property.
The transportation of landmines through the Lachin road has resulted in grave consequences, with over 2700 anti-personnel landmines produced in Armenia in 2021 already detected in the Lachin and Kalbajar districts of Azerbaijan since August 2022. Just recently, on April 22, 2023, a military truck of Azerbaijan’s Army hit a landmine planted by Armenians, injuring three servicemen. Since the end of the war, 294 Azerbaijanis have become landmine victims.
The Azerbaijani government has also recorded the entrance of military vehicles and container houses of Armenia into Azerbaijan, in violation of the Trilateral statement and international law. In response, the establishment of a border control mechanism at the starting point of the Lachin road will serve to ensure transparency over the movement along the road and the rule of law, thus ensuring the security and safety of the movement.
In line with obligations of the Trilateral Statement, proper conditions will be ensured for the transparent and regulated passage of Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan from this checkpoint to Armenia and Azerbaijan in both directions. The control mechanism will be implemented in interaction with the Russian peacekeeping force.
The Azerbaijani government has stated its readiness to cooperate to ensure a safe and transparent control regime at the border with Armenia.
The Azerbaijani government has raised concerns about the abuse of the Lachin road by Armenia, including the rotation of personnel of Armenian armed forces that continue to be illegally stationed in the territory of Azerbaijan, the transfer of weapons and ammunition, entrance of terrorists, as well as illicit trafficking of natural resources and cultural property.
The transportation of landmines through the Lachin road has resulted in grave consequences, with over 2700 anti-personnel landmines produced in Armenia in 2021 already detected in the Lachin and Kalbajar districts of Azerbaijan since August 2022. Just recently, on April 22, 2023, a military truck of Azerbaijan’s Army hit a landmine planted by Armenians, injuring three servicemen. Since the end of the war, 294 Azerbaijanis have become landmine victims.
The Azerbaijani government has also recorded the entrance of military vehicles and container houses of Armenia into Azerbaijan, in violation of the Trilateral statement and international law. In response, the establishment of a border control mechanism at the starting point of the Lachin road will serve to ensure transparency over the movement along the road and the rule of law, thus ensuring the security and safety of the movement.
In line with obligations of the Trilateral Statement, proper conditions will be ensured for the transparent and regulated passage of Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan from this checkpoint to Armenia and Azerbaijan in both directions. The control mechanism will be implemented in interaction with the Russian peacekeeping force.
The Azerbaijani government has stated its readiness to cooperate to ensure a safe and transparent control regime at the border with Armenia.
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