Askeran Mayor: Our struggle is to prevent the Red Crescent cargo from passing this route

With the permission of the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh, on September 12, a humanitarian cargo, through the mediation of the Russian Red Cross, entered the republic through the city of Askeran, the Artsakh Information Headquarters said on Facebook on Wednesday.

Hermine Khachatryan, a resident of Askeran, told Hetq.am that on the eve of September 11, out of habit, she went to the people gathered at the Aghdam-Askeran border. They built a fire, talked, and then Hermine returned home.

“It was quite late. On the way home, I got wet from the rain. As soon as I got home, I quickly bathed and lay down. I wanted to rest because I was on my feet all day and didn’t have time to eat anything,” she said.

Next morning, she received a call and was told that a car with a Russian humanitarian cargo had crossed the road and was heading to Stepanakert.

“I think it was 07:30 a.m. As soon as I found out about it, I quickly got dressed and ran out of the house. I needed to find out what had happened. I was there yesterday, the guys were conscientiously on watch. I didn’t understand how and why the car crossed the road. If the Russians want to help us, they could have sent this cargo through the Lachin corridor, why are they sending it through the Akna?” she asked.

Hermine asked the people gathered at the border about what had happened.

“Those who were at that moment near the Tank monument reported that the police had arrived from Stepanakert. They said that this was a government decision. The police also said that they only allowed the import of Russian goods, but not Azerbaijani ones. Azerbaijani cargo will not be allowed in Artsakh,” Khachatryan said.

The mayor of Askeran, Hayk Shamiryan, said that he was not at the place when the car passed.

“In any case, we did not prevent the entry of a car with Russian cargo. The guys, as before, continue to be on watch at the same place. We continue to keep the road closed with concrete barriers. Our struggle is to prevent the Red Crescent cargo from passing this route,” he added.

According to resident of Askeran Snezhana Tamrazyan, some residents learned about this news from social media. She said no one expected this.

Speaker of the National Assembly of Artsakh David Ishkhanyan said at a press conference on August 30 that there was a clear decision not to use the Akna-Askeran road. He also visited people gathered near the Tank monument in Askeran.

It was not possible to receive any comments from the Government of Artsakh on the guarantees of the transportation of Russian goods along the Aghdam-Askeran road and the opening of the Lachin corridor.