Ethnic cleansing of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), even genocide. According to Artsakh State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan, this is the goal of Azerbaijan. During today's online press conference, he emphasized that Azerbaijan needs Artsakh without Armenians or, at most, with a small number of Armenians.
“That's why they are trying to take all the measures to depopulate and empty Artsakh.
Azerbaijan spares nothing for the realization of this goal. Our capabilities are not sufficient to provide full or even minimal conditions, but from the first day of the roadblock, we relied on the help of the Russian peacekeeping forces and the ICRC Artsakh representation. All this time, they somehow manage to get food, medicine and the minimum amount of basic necessities,” he said.
Talking about the economic problems caused by the blockade, Nersisyan mentioned.
“There are areas that have been irreparably damaged. Serious damage was done to the branches of the economy. Local tax revenues alone were cut by nearly 70 percent. There is a high unemployment rate. 20 percent of economic entities operating in Artsakh have stopped their activities, and the rest are somehow trying to maintain their existence with state support,” Nersisyan said.
