Lachin corridor cannot be under any kind of Azerbaijani control, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) State Minister Artak Beglaryan said on Twitter Tuesday, December 14.

Beglaryan's comments came after Azeri President Ilham Aliyev claimed that the so-called “Zangezur corridor” that is supposed to connect Azerbaijan to Nakhijevan via Armenian territory "must have the same status as the existing Lachin corridor linking Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh."

The Azerbaijani side has on multiple occasions raised the question about a "corridor" through the southern Armenian province of Syunik that would connect Nakhijevan to the rest of Azerbaijan. The Armenian side, however, has repeatedly denied being involved in negotiations for the provision of a corridor to Azerbaijan, stressing that they have only agreed to unblock transport communications in the region.

Beglaryan said the matter has nothing to do with the opening of transport communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"Artsakh/Karabakh must have direct and uncontrolled common border with Armenia, and our occupied territories must be returned," the State Minister added.