Entry to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) will be prohibited without a negative COVID-19 test result. President Arayik Haroutyunyan stated about this in his message on Monday.

He noted that those who will not be able to submit such a document will undergo rapid tests at the Artsakh border checkpoints and will be allowed to enter only if the test results are negative.

"It is such practice that has allowed us to avoid case of [coronavirus] infection in the Defense Army. Citizens traveling to Artsakh will be given information leaflets with instructions for safety requirements, which will be mandatory for everyone. In addition, it is necessary to gradually switch to the mandatory procedure of wearing [face] masks. Security norms will also be adopted when holding mourning and marriage ceremonies, and the violators of the requirements will be held strictly accountable,” Haroutyunyan added.

According to the President, until recently, the measures taken by the Office of the Commandant had enabled avoiding an uncontrollable situation in Artsakh, but due the current rate of growth of the spread of COVID-19 in Armenia, now it is necessary to reduce entry to Artsakh.