France deplores the establishment by Azerbaijan of a checkpoint on the new road of the Lachin corridor connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday, April 23.

The move, Paris said, contravenes the commitments made under ceasefire agreements and is detrimental to the negotiation process.

“France calls on Azerbaijan to comply with its international obligations, in particular to implement the interim measures indicated by the International Court of Justice in its order of February 22, which are binding,” the Ministry said.

“It calls for the restoration of free movement of goods and people along the Lachin corridor, in both directions, and a continuous supply of gas and electricity to the population.”

Since December 12, the sole road connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia - the Lachin Corridor - has been blocked by self-described Azerbaijani environmentalists. Karabakh residents have reported severe food and fuel shortages, while hospital patients don't have access to essential medicines, with only a handful allowed transfer to facilities in Armenia.