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.
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 233, Mar 2, 2023 [EP233]
Posted on Thursday, Mar 2, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 233, Mar 2, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Mar 2, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Day to day Conditions
- Meeting of Artsakh and Azerbaijani Reps
- What is Artsakh Discussing at the Meeting
- What Concessions are being Discussed?
- New State Minister Gurgen Nersesyan
- More Azeri Shootings in Martakert and Askeran
Episode 233 | Recorded: March 2, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 233, Mar 2, 2023 [EP233]
Posted on Thursday, Mar 2, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh BlockadeArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 233, Mar 2, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Mar 2, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Day to day Conditions
- Meeting of Artsakh and Azerbaijani Reps
- What is Artsakh Discussing at the Meeting
- What Concessions are being Discussed?
- New State Minister Gurgen Nersesyan
- More Azeri Shootings in Martakert and Askeran
Episode 233 | Recorded: March 2, 2023
35th Anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms | Russia Warns the EU and Armenia | Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue | Ep 232 - Feb 26, 2023 [EP232]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, China, NATO, Syria, Genocide, Georgia | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- 35th Anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms
- Turkey after the Earthquake
- One Year Anniversary of the War in Ukraine
- Azerbaijan-Armenian Negotiations Continue
- Personal topics
Episode 232 | Recorded: February 28, 2023
35th Anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms | Russia Warns the EU and Armenia | Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations Continue | Ep 232 - Feb 26, 2023 [EP232]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, China, NATO, Syria, Genocide, GeorgiaGuest:
Topics:
- 35th Anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms
- Turkey after the Earthquake
- One Year Anniversary of the War in Ukraine
- Azerbaijan-Armenian Negotiations Continue
- Personal topics
Episode 232 | Recorded: February 28, 2023
Anna Abrahamian: Munich Security Conference | Artsakh [EP230]
Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, China, Russia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, Ukraine, NATO, Turkey, Genocide, Iran, Israel, Economy, Syria, European Union, Georgia, Middle East | Series: cog, video
Today weâre going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.
- The Munich Security Conference 2023.
- Weâll touch on Russian president Putinâs state of the federation address.
- The latest political developments in Artsakh.
Guest:
- Anna Abrahamian , a geopolitical analyst who splits her time between Moscow and Athens. Having obtained training in international law, Anna has worked in such noteworthy institutions as the Defense Analyses Institute in Athens as well as the Crisis Group in Brussels. Today, Anna provides her analysis on geopolitics and Armenian politics to her
Anna Abrahamian: Munich Security Conference | Artsakh [EP230]
Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, China, Russia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, Ukraine, NATO, Turkey, Genocide, Iran, Israel, Economy, Syria, European Union, Georgia, Middle EastToday weâre going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.
- The Munich Security Conference 2023.
- Weâll touch on Russian president Putinâs state of the federation address.
- The latest political developments in Artsakh.
Guest:
- Anna Abrahamian , a geopolitical analyst who splits her time between Moscow and Athens. Having obtained training in international law, Anna has worked in such noteworthy institutions as the Defense Analyses Institute in Athens as well as the Crisis Group in Brussels. Today, Anna provides her analysis on geopolitics and Armenian politics to her
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 231, Feb 24, 2023 [EP231]
Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Armenia | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 231, Feb 24, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 24, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Rouben Vardanyan sacked in Stepanakert
- Samuel Babayan in Artsakh
- Azeri and Artsakh reps meet to resume Gas & Electricity
- Further Azeri demands, Artsakh red lines
- Medical topics
Episode 231 | Recorded: February 24, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 231, Feb 24, 2023 [EP231]
Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, ArmeniaArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 231, Feb 24, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 24, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Rouben Vardanyan sacked in Stepanakert
- Samuel Babayan in Artsakh
- Azeri and Artsakh reps meet to resume Gas & Electricity
- Further Azeri demands, Artsakh red lines
- Medical topics
Episode 231 | Recorded: February 24, 2023
Suren Sargsyan: Artsakh Under Blockade - Day 72 [EP228]
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Geopolitics, Russia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, 168am, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Armenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, Israel, Middle East | Series: cog, video
Guests:
- Suren Sargsyan , founder and a President at the Armenian Center for American Studies, a research center based in Yerevan.
“Pashinyanâs participation in Munich Security Conference didnât give anything to Armenia” - Suren Sargsyan
Topic:
Today is day 72 of the total blockade of Artsakh. For 72 days, the 120K citizens of Artsakh have not had the ability to enter or exit their country. They are deprived of the ability to visit Armenia or to receive guests from Armenia. With very limited supplies, they are forced to ration food with the help of food stamps in order to
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