A group of Artsakh residents, angry and fed up with the now 16-day-long Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin Corridor, vowed to stay overnight at the Russian peacekeepers checkpoint until the troops’ commander meets with them and hears their demands.
The group, which since Friday has been confronting the Russian peacekeeping forces and demanding that they open the Lachin Corridor, on Tuesday marched from the iconic “We are Our Mountains” monument to the Stepanakert Airport to meet the commander of the Russian peacekeeping forces, Major-General Andrei Volkov.
A representative of the peacekeeping contingent met with the protest leader, Tigran Petrosyan, who told reporters that he conveyed their demand to meet with Volkov to present their concerns personally, Armenpress reported.
Petrosyan vowed that he and the other protesters, which included women and children, would not leave the airport until they meet with Volkov.
”We have to meet with Andrey Volkov personally so that he can convey our demands to his superiors. We will wait until the way is opened because this is our just demand. They should understand that people live here who demand freedom and the right to life,” Petrosyan said.
The group of Artsakh citizens has been demanding that the Russia peacekeepers carry out their duties as outlined by the November 9, 2020 agreement that stipulates that they must guarantee safe passage through the Lachin Corridor—the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia.
“Our people, with their families and children, stayed in Artsakh because of that declaration. Now its points are actually being violated. That is why we have come to say that we are also human beings, we are a people and we have rights,” Petrosyan said once the protesters arrived at the Stepanakert Airport.
“We are addressing not only Russia, but also the entire civilized world,” Petrsoyan emphasized.
“Every state that considers itself democratic should immediately take steps and explain to [Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham] Aliyev that one should not treat the people in such a way. It will all have a boomerang effect,” warned Petrosyan.
Since Friday, the peacekeepers had turned the demonstrators away. On Tuesday, they initially told them to turn back, but later agreed to meet with Petrosyan to hear the group’s demands.
