SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, January 12. Conditions were again created for the passage of convoy of vehicles belonging to the Russian peacekeepers [temporarily deployed in Azerbaijan in accordance with trilateral statements signed between Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders on November 10, 2020 after the second Karabakh war] along the Lachin-Khankendi road, trend reports from the scene.

Unhindered passage of a convoy of 13 vehicles from Khankendi in the direction of Lachin was ensured.

Participants of the peaceful rally of Azerbaijan's non-governmental organizations (NGO) on Lachin-Khankendi road close to the Russian peacekeepers area near Shusha, which has been going on for over a month, created an opportunity for the passage of vehicles.

Earlier, Armenian media outlets have been spreading fake news that the Azerbaijanis allegedly blocked the Lachin-Khankendi road and didn't let the supply vehicles through.

Previously, following the talks with the Russian peacekeepers' command on December 3 and 7, 2022, a group of experts from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Property Service under the Ministry of Economy, and AzerGold CJSC were going to begin preliminary monitoring of the illicit mineral resource exploitation, as well as emerging environmental implications on Azerbaijani lands, where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, on December 10, 2022.

The expert team was expected to inspect the environmental condition at the 'Gizilbulagh' gold deposit and the 'Damirli' copper-molybdenum deposit, monitor various areas, organize cadastral property records, assess potential risks and threats to the environment, as well as to underground and surface water sources.

However, when arriving in the monitoring area, the expert group, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers, faced provocations. The planned initial inspection and monitoring did not take place due to the fact that the Russian peacekeepers not only did not create necessary conditions but also prevented for the entire process to carry on.

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