Displaced Residents from Artsakh Hold Protest: What is Their Demand

On September 27, following the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh, numerous residents were forced to leave their homes and resettle in various regions of Armenia.

Displaced residents from Artsakh gathered again today in Republic Square. Their issues remain unresolved, and they are preparing to declare a sit-in protest. Following this, they will submit another letter to the UN office.

“If we are not allowed to return to Artsakh, then a community must be created for us in Armenia. If we are scattered like the displaced residents of Shahrumyan in the 1990s, we will never see our homeland again. Returning to Artsakh is currently impossible; how can they call on us to return when villages are being handed over again? Our alternative to not returning to Artsakh is Russia, France, and Italy, but they do not provide guarantees for our return,” said one protest participant.

He emphasized that there is no policy from the state to protect the people of Artsakh. “Everyone has become a supporter of the November 9 document. Our demands are the return to Artsakh and the clarification of refugee status. We have appealed to several embassies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and various agencies regarding the refugee status issue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded in writing that they cannot address our issue, and we have received zero responses from the embassies. As for the government, they need to do one thing—resign—because they are only causing harm to the nation,” the protester stated.