22 years since Karabakh blockade was brokenBefore liberation of Lachin, Karabakh was under a severe economic blockade, with electricity and gas supplies halted. 22 years ago, on May 18, 1992, the defense army of Artsakh liberated Lachin (now Berdzor), with the move becoming a military, political and psychological victory. May 19, 2014 PanARMENIAN.Net - After liberation of Shushi, Armenian forces had a new goal - to cleave the Road of Life at the shortest section between Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, since Karabakh was under conditions of severe economic blockade. Electricity and gas supplies were halted. Ammunition, food and medicine were delivered from Armenia by civil aviation, the flight becoming possible after liberation of Khojalu, where the only airport in Karabakh was located. On May 13, 1992, Armenian forces continued concentrating near Zarasly settlement located between Shushi and Lachin. The communication with Lachin was cut off, while its hospital, school and building of local administration were destructed. On May 15, Armenian detachments attacked upland Gulablu settlement of Aghdam region. Azerbaijani troops, which had numerical and positional advantages, repelled the attack. The enemy’s army fired at civilians of Stepanakert and other Armenian settlements from high levels of Gulablu. On May 17, Armenian forces rebuffed the Azerbaijani army’s attack on Shushi. According to the NKR defense army, fire exchange took place in Lachin between the Azerbaijani armed detachments and local Kurds. However, as soon as traffic through a bypass road from Berdzor to Goris region was resumed, the Azerbaijani detachments started urgently leaving Lachin. On May 18, then Armenian Defense Minister Vazgen Sargsyan told the parliament in Armenia that the road linking Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia is open. A representative of the Azerbaijani defense ministry admitted the fall of Lachin later on May 18. Berdzor, the center of Kashatagh region with a population of 9800, continues to serve as the Road of Life connecting Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Most popular in the section A non-exhaustive summary of war crimes Months-long project in Italy highlights culture and nation From an American Colonel's report A timeline of how the war machine was set in motion More articles in this section The situation is scarier than one can imagine Family in Beirut hoping to move to Armenia And the Pulitzer Prize went to… a lot of Armenians Honored as the best in literature, journalism Azerbaijan’s violence in April War Child killed, soldiers beheaded, bodies tortured | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). |