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.
Dziunik Aghajanian - on Armenian Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, the Pashinyan Agenda, and Mother Armenia | Ep. 258 - June 1, 2023 [EP258]
Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Relations, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, USA, Iran, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Genocide, NATO, Middle East | Series: cog
Dziunik Aghajanian - on Armenian Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, the Pashinyan Agenda, and Mother Armenia
Guest:
Topics:
- Intro to Ms Aghajanian
- Career path, Mentors, Influencers
- Parting ways with the MFA
- How did Armenia Resist Turkish Pressure prior to 2018
- Impressions of 2018 events
- On Pashinyanâs Policies to Surrender Artsakh
- Letter Planning the Surrender
- Messaging Aliyev to begin Instigations
- Changing Security Doctrine
- The Myth of Western Security Guarantees
- Pashinyanâs Fiction re Alma Ata and Madrid Principles
- On Armeniaâs National Interests
- On Armenian
Dziunik Aghajanian - on Armenian Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, the Pashinyan Agenda, and Mother Armenia | Ep. 258 - June 1, 2023 [EP258]
Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Relations, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, USA, Iran, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Genocide, NATO, Middle EastDziunik Aghajanian - on Armenian Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, the Pashinyan Agenda, and Mother Armenia
Guest:
Topics:
- Intro to Ms Aghajanian
- Career path, Mentors, Influencers
- Parting ways with the MFA
- How did Armenia Resist Turkish Pressure prior to 2018
- Impressions of 2018 events
- On Pashinyanâs Policies to Surrender Artsakh
- Letter Planning the Surrender
- Messaging Aliyev to begin Instigations
- Changing Security Doctrine
- The Myth of Western Security Guarantees
- Pashinyanâs Fiction re Alma Ata and Madrid Principles
- On Armeniaâs National Interests
- On Armenian
Negotiations Carousel | Meghri Railway | Rasht-Astara Railway | Kornidzor Rally | Artsakh Politics | Ep 256 - May 21, 2023 [EP256]
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, India, Genocide, Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, Georgia | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Accelerated Negotiations
- Negotiations Carousel
- Meghri Railway
- Russia Finances Rasht-Astara
- Rallies in Artsakh and Kornidzor
- Artsakh Domestic Politics
Episode 256 | Recorded: May 22, 2023
Negotiations Carousel | Meghri Railway | Rasht-Astara Railway | Kornidzor Rally | Artsakh Politics | Ep 256 - May 21, 2023 [EP256]
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, India, Genocide, Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, GeorgiaGuest:
Topics:
- Accelerated Negotiations
- Negotiations Carousel
- Meghri Railway
- Russia Finances Rasht-Astara
- Rallies in Artsakh and Kornidzor
- Artsakh Domestic Politics
Episode 256 | Recorded: May 22, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 253, May 11, 2023 [EP253]
Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Genocide, Human Rights | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 253, May 11, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Mayil 11, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- May 11 Azeri attacks on Sotk, Armenia
- Azerbaijan blocking ICRC convoys
- Sarsang reservoir depleting
- Rumors of a second pseudo-eco activist effort
- Lentsov in Baku - what results?
- Artsakh Ombuds & FM activities
- Matthew Bryza bemoans Armenian Opp & diaspora
- US Senate FR committee calls for sanctions
- May 9 in Artsakh
- Armenians, Artsakh and the victory in WW2
Episode 253 | Recorded: May 11, 2023
Read MoreArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 253, May 11, 2023 [EP253]
Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Genocide, Human RightsArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 253, May 11, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Mayil 11, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- May 11 Azeri attacks on Sotk, Armenia
- Azerbaijan blocking ICRC convoys
- Sarsang reservoir depleting
- Rumors of a second pseudo-eco activist effort
- Lentsov in Baku - what results?
- Artsakh Ombuds & FM activities
- Matthew Bryza bemoans Armenian Opp & diaspora
- US Senate FR committee calls for sanctions
- May 9 in Artsakh
- Armenians, Artsakh and the victory in WW2
Episode 253 | Recorded: May 11, 2023
Read MoreAzerbaijan Officially Blocks Lachin/Berdzor Corridor | Armenian-Azeri Negotiations | Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia | Ep 251 - April 30, 2023 [EP251]
Posted on Monday, May 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, USA, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Blockade, Turkey, Genocide, Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Economy, NATO | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Berdzor/Lachin Corridor
- Update on Armenian-Azeri Negotiations
- Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia
Episode 251 | Recorded: May 1, 2023
Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Lachin/Berdzor Corridor | Armenian-Azeri Negotiations | Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia | Ep 251 - April 30, 2023 [EP251]
Posted on Monday, May 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, USA, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Blockade, Turkey, Genocide, Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Economy, NATOGuest:
Topics:
- Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Berdzor/Lachin Corridor
- Update on Armenian-Azeri Negotiations
- Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia
Episode 251 | Recorded: May 1, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 250, Apr 28, 2023 [EP250]
Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, Genocide | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 250, Apr 28, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - April 28, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Lachin/Berdzor Corridor Blocked
on April 23
- So-called âEco-activistsâ Have Left.
- Armenian Rejects Discussions on Corridor Conditions
- Does the Government have a plan?
- Lentsov Replaces Volkov
- Artsakh Farmers Fired Upon - Again
- Would Artsakhtsis accept Azerbaijani Citizenship?
Episode 250 | Recorded: April 28, 2023