“Free Artsakh welcomes you” — with this sign, young people from Artsakh placed a placard on the Stepanakert-Shushi road and began a peaceful protest, demanding the removal of the Azerbaijani checkpoint. This was reported by “Azatutyun” (Radio Free Europe).
“The checkpoint illegally installed by Azerbaijan in the Berdzor corridor is a red line for us and is unacceptable. The action (protest) will continue until that checkpoint is removed from there,” said Davit Baghryan, a member of the group initiating the protest.
He noted that around 100 volunteers have rallied around them. Since 28 April, young people from Artsakh have been conducting a signature drive under the slogan “No to ethnic cleansing of Artsakh.” The demand is the unblocking of Artsakh. They have collected more than 20,000 signatures and will continue this work. According to Baghryan, the petition must reach the co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group and the Armenian authorities.
President Arayik Harutyunyan also joined the signature drive. Various movements are taking shape in Artsakh as Azerbaijanis have kept the people of Artsakh under blockade for some 5 months, following the official installation of a checkpoint on the Hakari bridge in the Lachin corridor.
