Artsakh Blockade
Last updated: May 29, 2026
The Artsakh blockade began in December 2022 when Azerbaijani activists, later joined by military personnel, established a checkpoint on the Lachin Corridor , the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia. Over the following nine months, the blockade progressively tightened, cutting off gas, electricity, food deliveries, and medical evacuations. By the summer of 2023, the population of Artsakh was facing acute food shortages and a humanitarian emergency.
The blockade drew condemnation from Western governments and was the subject of proceedings at the International Court of Justice, which issued provisional measures ordering Azerbaijan to ensure free movement through the corridor. Those measures were not enforced. Russia’s peacekeeping contingent, which held a mandate to guarantee passage under the 2020 ceasefire, took no action to reopen the road. The United States and European Union issued statements but applied no meaningful pressure.
Azerbaijan’s military offensive on September 19, 2023 ended the blockade by ending the existence of Armenian Nagorno Karabakh entirely. Within three weeks, nearly the entire population of 150,000 Armenians had been driven from Artsakh to Armenia — what human rights organizations and international observers have characterized as ethnic cleansing. Groong covered the blockade in real time throughout its duration — the humanitarian conditions inside Artsakh, the diplomatic failures, and the eventual collapse.
Groong episodes that include this tag
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Artsakh Blockade.
Tevan Poghosyan - UNSC Meeting on Karabakh | Artsakh Internal Developments | Yerevan Elections | Ep 275 - August 20, 2023 [EP275]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 22, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Genocide, Ukraine
Guest:
Topics:
- UNSC Meeting on Artsakh
- Artsakh Internal Developments
- Yerevan Elections
Episode 275 | Recorded: August 22, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 274, August 19, 2023 [EP274]
Posted on Sunday, Aug 20, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, Genocide | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 274, August 19, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - August 19, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Latest Developments around Artsakh
- Kidnapping of People at Checkpoints
- Cases of Starvation, Miscarriages
- UNSC Discussion of ArtsakhÂ
- Lack of a Resolution and Follow-Through
- Armeniaâs Diplomatic Failures
- New Artsakh parliament speaker David Ishkhanyan
- Internet Stoppage, Food, Gas, Electricity Shortages
- Continuing Azeri Aggression, troop movements and Buildup
Episode 274 | Recorded: August 19, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 274, August 19, 2023 [EP274]
Posted on Sunday, Aug 20, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, GenocideArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 274, August 19, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - August 19, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Latest Developments around Artsakh
- Kidnapping of People at Checkpoints
- Cases of Starvation, Miscarriages
- UNSC Discussion of ArtsakhÂ
- Lack of a Resolution and Follow-Through
- Armeniaâs Diplomatic Failures
- New Artsakh parliament speaker David Ishkhanyan
- Internet Stoppage, Food, Gas, Electricity Shortages
- Continuing Azeri Aggression, troop movements and Buildup
Episode 274 | Recorded: August 19, 2023
Hrant Mikaelian - Situation in Artsakh | Yerevan Elections Heating Up | MPG Poll Outtakes | MPG Poll on Yerevan Elections [EP273]
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 16, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Genocide, Turkey, Economy, Ukraine, China, Georgia, India, Iran | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Situation in Artsakh
- Yerevan Elections Heating Up
- July MPG Survey Outtakes
- August MPG Survey Outtakes
- Baku Poll
- Thoughts on the Economy
Episode 273 | Recorded: August 15, 2023
Hrant Mikaelian - Situation in Artsakh | Yerevan Elections Heating Up | MPG Poll Outtakes | MPG Poll on Yerevan Elections [EP273]
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 16, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Genocide, Turkey, Economy, Ukraine, China, Georgia, India, IranGuest:
Topics:
- Situation in Artsakh
- Yerevan Elections Heating Up
- July MPG Survey Outtakes
- August MPG Survey Outtakes
- Baku Poll
- Thoughts on the Economy
Episode 273 | Recorded: August 15, 2023
Sergei Melkonian - War of Words with Russia | Iran's Diplomatic Perspective | Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations | Artsakh: New Parliament Speaker [EP272]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 8, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Geopolitics, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Ukraine, Syria, NATO, Israel, India, Lebanon, Middle East | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- War of Words with Russia
- Iran’s Diplomatic Perspective
- Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
- Artsakh: New Parliament Speaker
Episode 272 | Recorded: August 7, 2023
Sergei Melkonian - War of Words with Russia | Iran's Diplomatic Perspective | Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations | Artsakh: New Parliament Speaker [EP272]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 8, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Geopolitics, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Ukraine, Syria, NATO, Israel, India, Lebanon, Middle EastGuest:
Topics:
- War of Words with Russia
- Iran’s Diplomatic Perspective
- Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
- Artsakh: New Parliament Speaker
Episode 272 | Recorded: August 7, 2023
Yeghia Tashjian - Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations | Azerbaijani Propaganda in Shushi | Situation In Artsakh | Ep 271 - July 30, 2023 [EP271]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, European Union, Ukraine, NATO, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, China, Economy | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations
- Azerbaijani Propaganda in Shushi
- Situation in Artsakh
Episode 271 | Recorded: July 31, 2023
Yeghia Tashjian - Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations | Azerbaijani Propaganda in Shushi | Situation In Artsakh | Ep 271 - July 30, 2023 [EP271]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, European Union, Ukraine, NATO, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, China, EconomyGuest:
Topics:
- Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations
- Azerbaijani Propaganda in Shushi
- Situation in Artsakh
Episode 271 | Recorded: July 31, 2023