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The gas supply from Armenia to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) has been restored, but it may be disrupted again anytime, because Azerbaijan installed a shut-off valve on the gas pipeline passing through Azerbaijani-held territory back in May this year, Artak Beglaryan, an advisor to the Artsakh state minister, told reporters outside the UN Office in Yerevan on Friday.

Beglaryan started an indefinite sit-in along with several others outside the UN Office on Wednesday, two days after Azerbaijan blocked the sole road connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the outside world, known as the Lachin corridor. Azerbaijan also cut off the gas supply to Artsakh, which was restored on Friday.

The Artsakh-Armenia corridor remains blocked, but Beglaryan reported some positive dynamics in talks over its reopening.

“There is hope that it may be reopened, but we cannot say what will happen next, we have no reason to trust Azerbaijan,” the official said.

He underscored that Azerbaijan decided to restore the gas supply following strong international pressure, adding the Azerbaijani blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as the gas supply cutoff caused great international resonance.

“Naturally, Russia is working on the matter. Various international organizations, including the UN, and other countries have issued statements. I am also aware of internal pressure," Beglaryan said, referring to the ECHR decision to give Azerbaijan until Monday to respond to Armenia’s request for interim measures over the road blockade.

Beglaryan stressed the need to continue the struggle to obtain long-term guarantees for the security of the Artsakh Armenians and prevent such incidents in the future. He stressed that Azerbaijan must know that it will have to pay a high price for committing acts of genocide against Artsakh from now on.

"The high price should entail punishment," Beglaryan noted.