Erdogan's Visit to Shushi Viewed as a New Attempt to Demonstrate Power: Statement from the National Assembly Factions of Artsakh

The factions of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh have issued a statement regarding Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's upcoming visit to Shushi. "Armenpress" presents the statement from the factions of the Republic of Artsakh.

"Following the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and the subsequent occupation of the historical homeland of the Armenian people, Turkey has sought to perpetrate similar atrocities against Eastern Armenians over the last century. Thanks to the organized resistance of the Armenian people, these genocidal plans have consistently failed. On September 27, 2020, taking advantage of favorable international and regional conditions, Turkey and Azerbaijan, in collusion with international terrorist groups, treacherously attacked the Republic of Artsakh, attempting to genocide the Armenians once again during the course of military operations. Due to the forced relocation of the Armenian population from their historical homeland, thousands have been rendered stateless, and countless national-Christian monuments have been destroyed and defiled.

Erdogan's uninvited visit to the occupied territories of Artsakh, particularly to the once-flourishing capital of Shushi, is viewed as a new threat and an attempt to demonstrate power. This continues the opening of the so-called 'strategist's park' in Baku, which aims to adopt new psychological and moral pressures against the Armenian people in the post-war period. Erdogan's provocative action is an attempt to undermine the peacekeeping efforts of Russia in the region, constituting a divisive plan that strikes at fragile stability.

Such a move by the Turkish president presents a new challenge not only to the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh but also to Russia and Iran. We call upon international organizations, including the co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, particularly the Russian Federation, to restrain Turkey's aggressive aspirations, which pose new dangers. The entire Armenian community must unite during these difficult days and confront new challenges."