By Mariam Levina

Russia does not use force to unblock the Lachin corridor because giving such an order is easy, but the consequences will be sad. Konstantin Zatulin, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the Russian State Duma, said this in an interview to Armenian News-NEWS.am on Tuesday.

Answering the question about the ineffectiveness of international appeals to Azerbaijan regarding the unblocking of the Lachin corridor, the Russian politician noted that many people can be blamed.

"The result is that there is no result. If we are talking about the goal of unblocking the corridor, then the corridor remains unblocked. The topic of the Lachin corridor is discussed meetings in any format with the representatives of Azerbaijan and Armenia, with the participation of Russia.

“Yesterday, Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan was in Moscow. The [Lachin corridor] topic was discussed again. It is clear that the Armenian side is not satisfied with the Lachin corridor being blocked. Russia demands to recognize the right of [Russian] peacekeepers to oversee the Lachin corridor and the tripartite agreement between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, essentially regarding the powers of peacekeepers in the region. As for Azerbaijan, it strives and strives to have the right to create a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor," Zatulin said.

He reminded that after the blocking of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijani “environmentalists,” Azerbaijan puts forward various demands.

"Everything started with the ‘concern’ related to the work in the mines, then there was talk about the need to check all cargo, then there was a demand to immediately remove [then-minister of state] Ruben Vardanyan from Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)], who is allegedly a representative sent from Russia.

“And as if this is a condition for the [re]opening of the Lachin corridor. As you know, Vardanyan has resigned from the position of Minister of State of the Artsakh Republic, but the corridor has not yet been unblocked. And I, like many others, have a very clear impression that the Azerbaijani side will continue in its spirit and has no intention of leaving the Lachin corridor," stressed Konstantin Zatulin.

"As for European, Western European or Russian efforts [towards having the Lachin corridor reopened], they are not bringing results today. Everything has been said at the level of declarations, words, and this is the case when both Western representatives and we, having different views on a huge number of issues, express ourselves here in the same spirit. For now, despite somewhat similar statements, Russian and Western, the Lachin corridor remains blocked.

“Russia does not use force to unblock the Lachin corridor because giving such an order is easy, but the consequences will be sad. This explains Russia's caution, which wants to return to the tripartite statement and confirm the powers of Russian peacekeepers to oversee the situation. It is clear that Azerbaijan is striving for something else: it wants to take over that overseeing.

“Thus, its wants to go even further in the fulfillment of his goals and desires. Its intentions are completely obvious. Various pretexts are invented, but in the end, I am sure, Azerbaijan's goal is somehow to achieve the withdrawal of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh; that is, to ensure that Nagorno-Karabakh, as an unrecognized state entity, ceases to exist and its Armenian population, which will not see a guarantee of existence under such conditions, will leave the area. This, in fact, is what Azerbaijan is striving for; its intentions are obvious to me," Konstantin Zatulin concluded.

Azerbaijan has closed the Lachin corridor since December 12, 2022 under the guise of "environmental action." The passing of this corridor is currently allowed exclusively for the Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Today marks the 100th day of this blockade of Artsakh.