From the morning of August 16, the members of the “Headquarters of the People’s Movement for Unblocking the Kashatagh Corridor” blocked the way of the Russian peacekeepers near the headquarters of the Russian peacekeepers in the Ivanyan community of Artsakh. Artsakh citizens demand to unblock the Berdzor corridor.
The Russian peacekeepers manually removed the car blocking their road from the area, then brought heavy equipment to the site, threatening to crush the vehicle blocking the road.
Artur Osipyan, a member of the initiative group of the “People’s Headquarters for Unblocking the Corridor,” stated that, in fact, for the first time, Russian peacekeepers are using heavy equipment only not to open the Lachin Corridor but against the civilian population of Artsakh.
Read also
One of the commanders of the Russian peacekeepers asked the Artsakh citizens participating in the protest action: “How much money did they pay you?” Gagik Avanesyan, a member of the “People’s Headquarters for Unblocking the Corridor” initiative group, told “Aravot:” “People say that the children are hungry, the Russian asks: who paid you to come here?” Or they don’t think about what people in a problematic situation can do.”
According to Avanesyan, they demand that the Russian side fulfills its obligations and opens the Berdzor corridor. “These are the steps taken by the people’s representatives, and this is a political demonstration to block the way of the Russian peacekeepers. With that, we send a message: whatever state we are in; you also be in that situation. Although the difference is big, there are children under siege in Artsakh, and there are big men in the headquarters of the Russian peacekeepers,” said Avanesyan.
He added that public pressure on Russian peacekeepers should be increased. “I think the pressure is feeble; the nation should wake up; I don’t know who or what people are waiting for. There is one natural reason; most men are in positions; those ready to die and protect their families are in positions. We also set a condition that the position guards should not participate in these actions because their job is to hold positions. The public movement must gain momentum; people must join; surprisingly, few people join,” he said.
Rosa HOVHANNISYAN
