Rep. Pallone: Aliyev continues to lie to international community about Lachin blockade

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev continues to lie to the international community about the month-long blockade of the Lachin corridor, Artsakh’s (Nagorno-Karabakh) sole land link with Armenia, U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone said on Wednesday, referring to Aliyev’s latest remarks.

In an interview with local TV journalists on January 10,  Aliyev challenged the idea that there actually is a blockade. "It is unfair to call the events on the Lachin-Khankandi road a blockade,” he said. (Khankandi is the Azerbaijani name for Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh.)

“Aliyev continues to lie to the international community about the month-long blockade of the Lachin Corridor,” Pallone tweeted. “There is clear evidence it's causing a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh by blocking critical food and medical supplies from getting to civilians.”

“It's also disturbing that the only time Aliyev celebrates "free speech" is when it is used to threaten the lives of Armenians. I have worked with my Armenian Caucus colleagues to push the State Department and other world leaders to take serious action to end this man-made disaster,” the congressman said in another tweet.

Since December 12, large groups of Azerbaijanis posing as eco-activists have blocked the Lachin corridor to protest what they claim is illegal mining.

Aliyev continues to lie to the international community about the month-long blockade of the Lachin Corridor. There is clear evidence it's causing a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh by blocking critical food and medical supplies from getting to civilians.https://t.co/KAZh8WLyCK

— Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) January 11, 2023