Gas supply to Karabakh stops due to pipeline damage

Beginning on the night of March 8, gas supply to the entire territory of Karabakh (Artsakh) has been halted due to damage to the main gas pipeline that goes from Armenia to Karabakh. 

Karabakh’s Human Rights Defender's staff say their investigation and discussions with law enforcement agencies revealed that the gas pipeline was damaged in an area of Karabakh that is currently under the control of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

“ArtsakhGaz specialists and law enforcement bodies can not clearly state whether the accident was due to technical reasons or as a result of the actions of the Azerbaijani side,” notes a statement from the Human Rights Defender’s office. According to them, Azerbaijan is not allowing specialists acess to the scene of the accident.

“At the moment, the restoration works are not being carried out due to the obstacles caused by the Azerbaijani side,” the statement reads.

Armenian officials say that Russian peacekeeping troops in Karabakh have been informed about the accident, the problem of the gas supply, and they are conducting negotiations to start restoration works.

"Obstructing the resumption of gas supply is proof of the intention of the Azerbaijani side to cause humanitarian problems and to disrupt normal life," the statement concludes.