Azerbaijani troops took control of the main road between Karabakh and Armenia

30 March, 2023 Military of Azerbaijan. Photo from open sources Azerbaijan reported that the country's Armed Forces took control of the Lachin corridor, that should be controlled by the Russians.

The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan announced this on Thursday, March 30. This road is the main transport way connecting Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. This territory is also controlled by the Russian military, which operates in the region under the guise of a "peacekeeping contingent."

Russian military in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Photo from open sources

The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan reported that in connection with the commissioning of the new Lachin corridor, the military took control of several surrounding heights. Besides, the military now controls several main and auxiliary roads, as well as a large border area between the villages of Cagazur and Zabukh of the Lachin district.

Protest action by citizens of Azerbaijan on Lachin corridor, December 26, 2022 Photo credits: CBC TV Azerbaijan

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan arose last December when Azerbaijani protesters blocked the Lachin corridor. They demanded an end to the excavation of minerals from the region.

Protest action by citizens of Azerbaijan at the Lachin Corridor, December 2022. Photo credits: Anadolu Agency

The Azerbaijani military previously took hold of the hill in the Shushi Province, which caused a protest from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. They also started demanding the return of the Azerbaijani military to their former positions.

However, according to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, this was necessary to "prevent the use of dirt roads in the north of the Lachin corridor for illegal activities and to prevent further aggravation of the situation by transferring weapons and ammunition from Armenia to the territory of Azerbaijan."

Lachin corridor.

Photo from open sources

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan emphasized that over the last few days, Armenian forces intensified the supply of weapons to the part of the territory of Karabakh controlled by ethnic Armenians, bypassing the Lachin corridor.

At the same time, the Armenian authorities claim that the road was not used to transport weapons but only "for organizing civil emergency communication between Stepanakert and four communities of Shushi Province."