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MP Tigran Abrahamyan of the opposition Pativ Unem faction accused the Armenian authorities of failure to take effective steps to counter Azerbaijan's threats.

"Azerbaijan reiterated its stance on the mandate of Russian peacekeeping forces in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), noting that they respect the 5-year term set by the November 9 joint statement, but at the same time hinting that they are not going to agree to its extension after the mandate expires,” the MP wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

He pointed to Azerbaijan’s claims about the safety of the Lachin corridor connecting Armenia and Artsakh, accusing Russia of using it to supply weapons to Nagorno-Karabakh under the guise of humanitarian cargo.

Abrahamyan says the Azerbaijani statements may be setting the stage for the shutdown of the road or the setup of an Azerbaijani checkpoint on it.

“Moreover, Azerbaijan continues to insist that the Armenia-Artsakh road and the road between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan through Armenian territory must have the same status. In other words, if Armenia rejects the corridor demands, the overland connection between Artsakh and Armenia will have the status of a road under Azerbaijan’s direct control,” the deputy said.

“This is a chain of threats, which Azerbaijan is pushing ahead freely, while the Armenian authorities take no strong measures to counter them, thus risking new casualties and territorial losses,” Abrahamyan stated.