At a press conference on January 18, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the Lachin corridor, the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, will be reopened for people and traffic shortly.

"I spoke with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister yesterday. According to the agreement reached by the leaders of the three countries [Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia in November 2020], the Lachin corridor should be free for the passage in both directions of cargo, citizens, and vehicles," Lavrov said. He noted that the road should not be used to transport military cargo. The Russian FM added that Azerbaijan has evidence that the Armenian side used the road to transport mines to Nagorno-Karabakh, which was planted near Azerbaijani positions in violation of trilateral agreements. 

"We suggested a very simple thing: the peacekeeping contingent that Russia sent to Nagorno-Karabakh has the authority to control the movement along the corridor and check every vehicle for the absence of prohibited non-humanitarian, non-civilian goods," Lavrov said, adding that representatives of Azerbaijan and representatives of Karabakh had meetings with the participation of the command of the Russian contingent. "I think this issue [the blockade of the road] will be resolved shortly," he said.

Moreover, Lavrov criticized Armenia's decision to deploy an EU civilian mission along its border with Azerbaijan, saying that without Azerbaijan's accord, it would be counterproductive.