We have received reliable information that plans are being developed to unilaterally open the Lachin corridor; that is, to allow exit from Nagorno-Karabakh and not to allow entry. This was announced by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at Thursday’s regular Cabinet meeting of the Armenian government.

He emphasized that many residents of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) are still in Armenia and cannot return to Nagorno-Karabakh.

"About 5,000 of them cannot return to Nagorno-Karabakh due to the illegal closure of the Lachin corridor [by Azerbaijan] since December of last year, and another 30,000—due to non-fulfillment of point 7 of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020. Failure to fulfill this provision and other facts continuously prove that Azerbaijan's main objective is to remove Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh by means of ethnic cleansing—be it through starving to death, famine, military operation, or other means," he noted.

Pashinyan said that the information they have proves that Azerbaijan continues to torpedo a dialogue with Nagorno-Karabakh by various means, and is attempting to place the accountability on Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Armenia's position remains the same. Issues related to the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh should be addressed through the Baku-Stepanakert dialogue within the framework of international mechanisms. It is also essential to implement the 7th point of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, which provides for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons not only to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, but also to neighboring regions," the Armenian PM added, in particular.