On January 8, Azerbaijan's state media posted footage of an Armenian herdsman being returned through Russia peacekeeping mediation at Azerbaijan's roadblock. The Azerbaijani media reported that the individual had approached one of their military positions a few days earlier, asking for cigarettes and food. According to the Azerbaijani media, the Armenian resident of Karabakh was given food and cigarettes and was treated with care. De-facto Karabakh authorities reported that the herdsman, Toros Gazaryan, a resident of Chartar town with health issues, had not returned from cattle grazing on January 1. A search party was deployed, but they were unable to find him.

During the live broadcast on January 8, Ruben Vardanyan, de-facto State Minister of separatist Nagorno-Karabakh, stated, "90 percent of the Nagorno-Karabakh population accepts the situation calmly and correctly." According to Vardanyan, another unacceptable phenomenon was recorded. "I do not accept the person who, in cooperation with Russian peacekeepers and someone else, was able to bring food and sell it to people at a higher price," said Vardanyan, adding that some people are trying to make money in the besieged Nagorno-Karabakh.

On January 11, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president, announced that Russia and Armenia are conducting negotiations on Karabakh at different levels. "There are constant contacts at work, at different levels," he added. Peskov also commented on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement that if Russia cannot fulfill its duties in Nagorno-Karabakh, it should turn to the UN Security Council. "The issue of sending UN Security Council peacekeepers to Karabakh has been on the agenda more than once, but their deployment requires the consent of all parties to the conflict," the press secretary of the Russian president stated.

International Reactions

On January 10, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated his call to ensure free and safe movement through the Lachin Corridor. "The Secretary-General reiterates his calls to de-escalate tensions and ensure free and safe movement through the corridor in accordance with the agreements reached earlier, and he expresses his support for mediation efforts," the UN Secretary-General said. 

On the same day, Fukushima Masanori, the Japanese Ambassador to Armenia, called to ensure the freedom and safety of movement through the Lachin Corridor. "I am concerned about the reports about the developments around the Lachin Corridor. I call on the parties to ease the tension and ensure the freedom and safety of movement along the corridor in accordance with the agreements reached by the parties," the Ambassador added.