The State Minister of the self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Gurgen Nersisyan has announced that outbound traffic from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia is now possible only in "highly essential" cases.
Speaking on Wednesday (5 April), Nersisyan also denied reports claiming that Russian peacekeepers are evacuating Karabakh Armenians, and transferring large numbers of people, to Armenia.
Nersisyan said, "from now on, travelling from Artsakh to Armenia will be possible only in highly essential cases and exclusively through applying in advance to the Center for Cooperation with the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent and with their permission."
Since the beginning of the "blockade" of the Lachin Corridor on 12 December 2022 - although Azerbaijan rejects this term - it has been reported that Karabakh Armenians who had been visiting Armenia have been unable to return to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nersisyan said, "given the constant issues people face in their lives, such as the death of a relative in Armenia, a funeral, severe illness of a family member in Armenia in case of separated families, surgery and others, and the growth of tension, the Russian peacekeepers recently began transporting [...] the citizens who are facing such issues."
He added, "regarding people with health issues requiring medical attention, their transfer to Armenia will be organised through the Artsakh representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, with recommendation of the healthcare ministry of Artsakh."
He finished by denying reports that Russian peacekeepers were evacuating Karabakh Armenians "en masse".