Azerbaijani ‘Environmental Activists’ Suspend Protest after Illegal Lachin Checkpoint Installation

Azerbaijanis claiming to be “environmental activists,” who have been blockading the Lachin Corridor for the past 138 days announced on Friday that they would “temporarily” suspend their protests, Azerbaijani media reported.

The demonstrators’ so-called protest actions resulted in the complete blockade of Artsakh, creating a humanitarian crisis, which Artsakh authorities are calling an attempt by Baku to ethnically cleanse the Armenian population of Artsakh.

Azerbaijan’s president’s special envoy met with the protesters in Shushi on Friday and announced that beginning on April 23 a “new reality” has been created, the APA news agency reported.

On April 23, Azerbaijan set up an illegal checkpoint at the Lachin Corridor and closed the Hakari River bridge. Officials in Baku have said all traffic through the Lachin Corridor will be inspected by officers stationed at the checkpoint.