Those responsible for maintaining public order and security of the Lachin corridor should take all necessary measures to restore traffic along this road as a matter of urgency and prevent the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic said.
"I have been closely monitoring the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh after the closure of the road passing through the Lachin corridor since December 12. I am concerned that prolonged disruptions in the movement of people, preventing some of them from reaching their homes, as well as access to essential goods and services, including food and emergency medical care, threaten the realization of human rights by the population of Nagorno-Karabakh," she said.
Mijatovic noted that all relevant parties should avoid escalation of tension.
"The current situation once again shows the importance of ensuring free and unhindered access of humanitarian aid and international human rights missions to all areas and people, including those living in Nagorno-Karabakh," she said. As I indicated in my Memorandum of 2021, the relevant authorities should develop effective and flexible access methods that allow all relevant parties, including my Office, to address those in need of humanitarian assistance and human rights protection as a matter of priority.
Mijatovic stated that she is ready to interact with all relevant interlocutors to help overcome existing problems."