The Call of the People of Artsakh to the Entire Armenian Nation and the World

The people gathered at the Renaissance Square in the capital of the Artsakh Republic, Stepanakert, addressed their call to the global Armenian community, the international community, and every individual fighting for freedom and universal values.

"Since December 12, Artsakh has been completely blockaded. More than 120,000 people, including about 30,000 children, are in dire conditions, completely deprived of freedom of movement and many related vital opportunities. Once again, the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan is grossly violating international legal norms and the obligations assumed under the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020. The uninterrupted operation of the land route between Artsakh and Armenia cannot be a subject of any negotiations or bargaining. The communication that connects Artsakh to the outside world must be restored without preconditions and immediately, and conditions must be created to ensure its further uninterrupted operation.

The ethnic cleansing and discriminatory policies carried out by Azerbaijan against the Armenian people, which gained new momentum after the war imposed on us in the fall of 2020 and its disastrous consequences, aim to depopulate Armenian Artsakh, continuing the script of the genocide committed by Turkey in Western Armenia in 1915.

The national will to live freely and independently in our historical homeland directed our people towards a liberation struggle from this very square in 1988, resulting in a declared sovereign state in accordance with the norms of international law and visible political, economic, and social achievements that prove its viability. Today, as the existence of the Republic of Artsakh is threatened, we, bowing before the memory of our countrymen who dedicated their lives to our liberation struggle, renew our pledge to continue the work of our holy martyrs and restore our dignity.

In our ongoing struggle, we, just as in previous years, still need the comprehensive support of the Motherland and the global Armenian community. Over the past years, Artsakh has been a symbol of Armenian identity and dignity. Today, when the second Armenian Republic faces new challenges, Artsakh must become the center around which we can unite the national potential. The future of the Artsakh Republic is a matter of national significance and requires pan-Armenian consolidation and solidarity."