Artsakh President Welcomes Recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk Republics' Independence

Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan has expressed his support on Facebook, stating: "On behalf of the authorities and the people of the Republic of Artsakh, I welcome the decision of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.

The right to self-determination and the establishment of one's own state is inalienable for every people and is a fundamental principle of international law. The creation of independent statehood and its international recognition becomes imperative, especially under existential threats, as it serves as an effective and civilized means of preventing bloodshed and humanitarian disasters.

The Republic of Artsakh has been fighting for its freedom, security, and state-building for decades and has had to endure heavy trials and genocidal actions repeatedly. Therefore, we are confident that the Republic of Artsakh, which has the necessary historical, political, legal, and moral unquestionable grounds, has earned the international recognition of its sovereign state.

We congratulate the people of Donbass on this historic event and hope that this once-flourishing land will once again reaffirm strong peace and stability."