On July 11, the State Border Service (SBS) of Azerbaijan announced the closure of the unilaterally established checkpoint in the Lachin corridor and the complete cessation of the previously limited traffic on the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. The reason for the next blocking of the corridor was the cases of smuggling of smuggled goods by vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) identified by the Azerbaijani border service.

It is noted that traffic through the Lachin checkpoint was suspended until the necessary investigative actions were completed. "Among the contraband found in ICRC vehicles at the entrance to the Lachin corridor, the Azerbaijani State Border Service earlier this Tuesday indicated undeclared mobile phones, mobile phone screens, mobile phone boards, power supplies for mobile phones, cigarette packs, gasoline," the report added.

"The use of ICRC-owned and medical evacuation vehicles for smuggling purposes is not only a gross violation of the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan, but also an abuse of our country’s trust in the ICRC, which is a humanitarian organization," the information said.

On the same day, the International Committee of the Red Cross explained the situation in connection with the accusations made earlier by the State Border Service of Azerbaijan of transporting contraband by ICRC vehicles along the Lachin corridor.

"The ICRC is aware of the concerns expressed about the movement of unauthorized goods through the Lachin corridor and does not support such activities. No unauthorized items were found in any of the ICRC vehicles. All cargoes are subject to the customs control of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the Red Cross said in a statement. However, they noted that without the knowledge of the ICRC, four hired drivers tried to transport some commercial goods in their vehicles, which temporarily had the emblem of the Red Cross. "These individuals were not employees of the ICRC, and the committee immediately terminated their employment contracts," it stated.

"Our work in the Lachin corridor is always strictly humanitarian. This essential work has enabled the evacuation of more than 600 patients for medical care, as well as the delivery of medical supplies, food, baby food, and other essentials to medical facilities and families. The transportation must continue. This work is always done with the consent of the parties and is important for the lives of thousands of people," the report added.

Moreover, on July 11, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan reported that units of the Armed Forces of Armenia from positions located in the direction of the Syunik region, fired from small arms at the opposite positions of the Azerbaijani army in the direction of the Lachin region. As a result, a serviceman Huseyn Abdullayev was wounded. He was hospitalized; there is no threat to his life, the military department informed. It is also indicated that the units of the Azerbaijani army are taking retaliatory measures.

In turn, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia reported that the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan fired on Armenian positions.