Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan has again warned that Azerbaijan is committing genocide with its blockade.
In an interview with the local public television, Harutyunyan said that Azerbaijan has turned Nagorno-Karabakh into a “major concentration camp” and is committing genocide there. “Now we already have a preliminary conclusion that this constitutes genocide,” he added.
“We have severe shortages of medicine in the healthcare sector. There’s shortage of life-saving medications in pharmacies. The number of deaths resulting from various chronic illnesses continues to grow. For example, the cases of deaths from cardiovascular system diseases increased nearly twice in the first half of the year. Pregnant women, children and people with chronic illnesses are the most vulnerable ones, and their health is deteriorating because of malnutrition, stress and other issues,” President Harutyunyan said.
The Nagorno-Karabakh President said that he declared nationwide disaster with the expectation that the international community would provide at least humanitarian support. Harutyunyan noted that Armenia was first to respond and sent a humanitarian convoy, but the goods remain blocked at the entrance of the Lachin Corridor because Azerbaijan doesn’t allow them to go through.
Harutyunyan added that the Azerbaijani blockade has destroyed the economy and restoring it would take decades.
“We are witnessing genocide, and we are planning our steps in this regard,” he added.
