International Court of Justice Orders Azerbaijan to Unblock Lachin Corridor

The Hague-based court ruled on February 22 that, pending a final ruling on the case, Azerbaijan must take all measures to ensure unhindered movement of people, transport, and cargo in both directions along the Lachine Corridor.

Armenia appealed to the International Court of Justice against Azerbaijan in September 2021. The case concerns Azerbaijan's alleged violation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. On December 28, 2022, Armenia requested the court to use a temporary measure. Armenian authorities say that on December 12, Azerbaijan blocked the only road connecting 120,000 ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh to the outside world.

“With this decision, the court found that there is an imminent threat of irreparable damage to the rights of Armenians under the Convention. Thus, according to the court's decision, Azerbaijan's blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and other actions must be stopped immediately. Armenia will closely monitor the situation and inform the court of any violation by Azerbaijan. We call on international partners to take effective steps to ensure Azerbaijan's immediate reaction to implement the court’s decision,” said the statement issued by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In turn, the government of Azerbaijan demanded that the International Court of Justice order Armenia to stop mining the Lachin corridor and transporting mines. The court did not satisfy Azerbaijan's request to apply a temporary measure. According to the court chairman Azerbaijan did not submit relevant evidence.

The Lachine Corridor has been blocked for more than two months by Azerbaijanis who call themselves eco-activists. According to the international human rights organization Amnesty International, the blockade has caused severe shortages of food and medical supplies in the region. All schools and kindergartens attended by approximately 27,000 children were temporarily closed due to the lack of electricity. The situation is especially severe for the elderly and disabled, and patients with chronic problems. Due to the lack of medical equipment, the health of pregnant women is also at risk.

“Azerbaijani authorities have internationally recognized sovereignty over these territories and control the territory from which the blockade is taking place. It is Azerbaijan's responsibility to ensure access to food, other essential goods, and medicines for the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. In turn, the Russian peacekeeping mission is tasked with ensuring the security of the Lachine Corridor. However, both sides are clearly not living up to their commitments,” said Marie Struthers, Amnesty International's Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The organization calls on Azerbaijan to immediately unblock the road and end the humanitarian crisis.