Azerbaijan on Tuesday (July 11) temporarily shut the only road which links its breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region with Armenia. Azerbaijan has accused Armenian branch of the Red Cross of smuggling.

The region has been at the centre of the dispute between the two Caucasus countries. They have fought two wars over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. &nbsp;

The closure of the road has come ahead of the European Union-mediated talks between the ex-Soviet countries.

"The passage through Lachin checkpoint of the state border is temporarily suspended" pending an investigation into the Red Cross using its medical vehicles for "smuggling", Azerbaijan's state border service said on Tuesday.

Azerbaijan said that the decision was taken after the Red Cross failed to "take necessary steps to prevent illegal actions" like smuggling mobile phones from Armenia to Karabakh. Azerbaijan is accusing that this 'smuggling' is taking place using the organisation's medical vehicles.

Armenia has urged international action and has called closure of road being part of Azerbaijan's policy of "ethnic cleansing".

"More international efforts and actions needed to lift" the Karabakh blockade and "to prevent ethnic cleansing," foreign ministry spokeswoman Ani&nbsp;Badalyan said in an English-language Twitter post.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has denied Baku's claims. It has said that "no unauthorised material has been found in any vehicle belonging to ICRC."&nbsp;

"However, we regret that without our knowledge four hired drivers tried to transport some commercial goods in their own vehicles which were temporarily displaying the ICRC emblem," it added in a statement.

The border point at the entrance to the Lachin corridor was set up by Azerbaijan in April. This had exacerbated allegations from Armenia of a Karabakh "blockade".

Armenian branch of the Red Cross said late last month that Azerbaijan was impeding access to Karabakh.

Azerbaijan's state border service said several days later that traffic through the Lachin corridor -- policed by Russian peacekeepers -- was resumed.

The latest developments followed a months-long blockade by Azerbaijani environmental activists, which Yerevan claims spurred a humanitarian crisis and food and fuel shortages.

Azerbaijan insisted at the time that civilian transport could go unimpeded through the Lachin corridor.

<h2>'Ethnic cleansing'</h2>

Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian Prime Minister said last month that the "humanitarian situation in Karabakh has worsened dramatically".

"Food supplies to Karabakh have practically ceased and patients are not being allowed to be taken to hospitals in Armenia for medical treatment," he said.

Baku's "actions prove that Azerbaijan is pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing in Karabakh," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Azerbaijan on Tuesday (July 11) temporarily shut the only road which links its breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region with Armenia. Azerbaijan has accused Armenian branch of the Red Cross of smuggling.

Azerbaijan on Tuesday (July 11) temporarily shut the only road which links its breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region with Armenia. Azerbaijan has accused Armenian branch of the Red Cross of smuggling. The region has been at the centre of the dispute between the two Caucasus countries. They have fought two wars over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The closure of the road has come ahead of the European Union-mediated talks between the ex-Soviet countries. "The passage through Lachin checkpoint of the state border is temporarily suspended" pending an investigation into the Red Cross using its medical vehicles for "smuggling", Azerbaijan's state border service said on Tuesday. Azerbaijan said that the decision was taken after the Red Cross failed to "take necessary steps to prevent illegal actions" like smuggling mobile phones from Armenia to Karabakh. Azerbaijan is accusing that this 'smuggling' is taking place using the organisation's medical vehicles. Armenia has urged international action and has called closure of road being part of Azerbaijan's policy of "ethnic cleansing". "More international efforts and actions needed to lift" the Karabakh blockade and "to prevent ethnic cleansing," foreign ministry spokeswoman Ani Badalyan said in an English-language Twitter post. The International Committee of the Red Cross has denied Baku's claims. It has said that "no unauthorised material has been found in any vehicle belonging to ICRC." "However, we regret that without our knowledge four hired drivers tried to transport some commercial goods in their own vehicles which were temporarily displaying the ICRC emblem," it added in a statement. The border point at the entrance to the Lachin corridor was set up by Azerbaijan in April. This had exacerbated allegations from Armenia of a Karabakh "blockade". Armenian branch of the Red Cross said late last month that Azerbaijan was impeding access to Karabakh. Azerbaijan's state border service said several days later that traffic through the Lachin corridor -- policed by Russian peacekeepers -- was resumed. The latest developments followed a months-long blockade by Azerbaijani environmental activists, which Yerevan claims spurred a humanitarian crisis and food and fuel shortages. Azerbaijan insisted at the time that civilian transport could go unimpeded through the Lachin corridor. 'Ethnic cleansing' Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian Prime Minister said last month that the "humanitarian situation in Karabakh has worsened dramatically". "Food supplies to Karabakh have practically ceased and patients are not being allowed to be taken to hospitals in Armenia for medical treatment," he said. Baku's "actions prove that Azerbaijan is pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing in Karabakh," he added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Azerbaijan closes key road link to Karabakh region

Pope Francis on Sunday (December 18) made an appeal during his Sunday address for end to escalating tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. His appeal has come on the heels of blocking of a key road linking Armenia to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.

A group of Azerbaijanis claiming to be environmental activists blocked the Lachin corridor, the only land route for people, goods, food and medical supplies to reach Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia across Azerbaijani territory at the start of this week.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have a dispute between them over Nagorno-Karabakh region. The two countries have fought repeated wars over the region. The region is internationally recognised as being part of Azerbaijan but it is home to 120,000 ethnic Armenians - since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. As recently as September, more than 200 soldiers were killed in a flare-up of fighting.

After his weekly Angelus prayer, the 86-year-old pontiff asked the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray for peace in Ukraine and in Peru where the fall of ousted and jailed leader Pedro Castillo sparked deadly protests around the country.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Pope Francis on Sunday (December 18) made an appeal during his Sunday address for end to escalating tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. His appeal has come on the heels of blocking of a key road linking Armenia to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.

Pope Francis on Sunday (December 18) made an appeal during his Sunday address for end to escalating tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. His appeal has come on the heels of blocking of a key road linking Armenia to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. A group of Azerbaijanis claiming to be environmental activists blocked the Lachin corridor, the only land route for people, goods, food and medical supplies to reach Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia across Azerbaijani territory at the start of this week. Armenia and Azerbaijan have a dispute between them over Nagorno-Karabakh region. The two countries have fought repeated wars over the region. The region is internationally recognised as being part of Azerbaijan but it is home to 120,000 ethnic Armenians - since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. As recently as September, more than 200 soldiers were killed in a flare-up of fighting. After his weekly Angelus prayer, the 86-year-old pontiff asked the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray for peace in Ukraine and in Peru where the fall of ousted and jailed leader Pedro Castillo sparked deadly protests around the country. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Pope Francis appeals for calm amid rising tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev declared on Friday (November 25) that he would not hold peace talks with Armenian prime minister in Brussels next month if French President Emmanuel Macron mediates as requested by Armenia. Azerbaijan has been accusing France of backing Armenia over breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought wars over the region.

Aliyev said he won't meet Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan because of the latter's demand for Macron to attend the talks.

Pashinyan "agreed to the meeting only on condition" that Macron take part, Aliyev told an international conference in Baku. "That means the meeting will not take place."

He accused Pashinyan of attempting to "scupper the peace talks".

Macron and European Council President Charles Michel last month attended a meeting between Aliyev and Pashinyan. The meeting took place in Prague.

On Friday, the Armenian foreign ministry said the meeting in Brussels should have the "same" format.

With Moscow increasingly isolated on the world stage following its February invasion of Ukraine, the EU and the United States have taken a leading role in mediating the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks.

On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted Moscow was "continuing its work on facilitating" talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev declared on Friday (November 25) that he would not hold peace talks with Armenian prime minister in Brussels next month if French President Emmanuel Macron mediates as requested by Armenia.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev declared on Friday (November 25) that he would not hold peace talks with Armenian prime minister in Brussels next month if French President Emmanuel Macron mediates as requested by Armenia. Azerbaijan has been accusing France of backing Armenia over breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought wars over the region. Aliyev said he won't meet Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan because of the latter's demand for Macron to attend the talks. Pashinyan "agreed to the meeting only on condition" that Macron take part, Aliyev told an international conference in Baku. "That means the meeting will not take place." He accused Pashinyan of attempting to "scupper the peace talks". Macron and European Council President Charles Michel last month attended a meeting between Aliyev and Pashinyan. The meeting took place in Prague. On Friday, the Armenian foreign ministry said the meeting in Brussels should have the "same" format. With Moscow increasingly isolated on the world stage following its February invasion of Ukraine, the EU and the United States have taken a leading role in mediating the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks. On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted Moscow was "continuing its work on facilitating" talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

No peace talks with Armenia if France President Emmanuel Macron attends, says Azerbaijan

The disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh is battling a fresh crisis. Not only is the region facing hose worst clashes in decades as the fighting continues between Armenia and Azarbaijan. There is also the challenge to beat COVID-19. Watch report.

Your Story: Coronavirus pandemic another challenge to overcome for civilians of Nagorno-Karabakh