EFA urges the restoration of gas supply to the Republic of Artsakh by the Azerbaijani armed forces

The European Free Alliance also supports the Democratic Party of Artsakh, which has reported attacks against the civilian population

The Republic of Artsakh has been deprived of gas supply for 4 days. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, the country’s only gas pipeline, which passes through an area under the control of Azerbaijani armed forces, was damaged on the night of 8 March, and the Azerbaijani authorities refuse to repair it. Due to this situation, the population of Artsakh is facing a range of humanitarian problems, which are especially severe due to the cold weather conditions.

In addition to this, the Democratic Party of Artsakh, a member of the European Free Alliance, has reported threats and attacks against the civilian population. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that on 9 and 10 March, the Azerbaijani armed forces targeted the civilian population of Khnushinak and Karmir Shuka villages in the Martuni region and Khramort village in the Askeran region, employing large-calibre firearms, as a result of which one civilian was wounded. This happened after the Azerbaijani forces had threatened the peaceful population of Khramort with physical revenge for a week.

The European Free Alliance strongly condemns the aggressions of the Azerbaijani armed forces against the Artsakh people, both the physical violence and the deprivation of gas. These Azerbaijani actions threaten regional peace and stability and could have devastating consequences for the people of the Republic of Artsakh. For these reasons, EFA requests the Azerbaijani forces to repair the damaged gas pipeline and stop threatening the Artsakh civilian population.