On July 14, thousands of people gathered in Stepanakert/Khankendi to protest the blockade after humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh. They vowed to keep protesting until Azerbaijan lifted the siege. The demonstration started at the Renaissance Square, from which the crowd marched to the ICRC headquarters and the Russian peacekeeper post outside of the city.

Gurgen Nersisyan, the de-facto State Minister of the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh, announced the protest on July 13, emphasizing the necessity of launching a national movement.  "The world community, as well as Russia and Armenia, had been expected to intervene swiftly to avert deadly disaster, but instead, everyone just watches everything as an observer," Nersisyan added. He also criticized the use of Nagorno-Karabakh citizens as coins in disputes and international affairs, claiming that a fight between the West and Russia was being carried out at the cost of the lives of Nagorno-Karabakh citizens. "What do you require? Why are you holding out?" Nersisyan said. "Do you want us to bury people's bodies in this plaza every day so you can respond?" he questioned.

Former de-facto State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan said he would join the rally on Renaissance Square and express his opinion on the situation around the unrecognized republic. "I will have my say. And we will do our best to make it a real fight, not an imitation. We will do everything to understand that our future is in our hands, and I am sure that we will get through this difficult time, but for this, we must be honest," Vardanyan added.

Moreover, Arayik Harutyunyan, the de-facto President of the separatist entity, has taken action by sending letters to heads of all UN Security Council member states, the UN Secretary-General, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, the President of the European Council, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, as well as the Prime Minister of Armenia, urging them “to fulfill their international obligations and promptly implement effective measures to halt the illegal and complete blockade imposed on Karabakh by Azerbaijan, and to put an end to the systematic mass crimes and acts of terrorism against the people of Karabakh.”