Dear Artsakh Residents, Stay Strong and Unyielding: Pashinyan's Message on the 35th Anniversary of the Artsakh Movement

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, has sent a message on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Artsakh Movement.

“35 years ago, around this time, the Artsakh movement began. The spontaneous and massive protests that started on February 20, 1988, will remain in Armenian history as a symbol of national awakening, unity, and liberation struggle. The movement was the first step towards the restoration of our statehood, through which we reclaimed our determination to live freely and independently, to shape our destiny, and manage our future.

The Artsakh movement expressed the will and right of the residents of Artsakh to defend their rights and live with dignity on their land. Even 35 years later, the Armenian people of Nagorno-Karabakh face serious challenges. Today, our compatriots, being under blockade, are forced to express their will to protect their rights and security. As I have repeatedly stated, Azerbaijan's actions have a single goal: to break the will of the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh to live in their homeland, which I am confident is unyielding and steadfast.

Dear compatriots, we continue to multiply our efforts to focus international attention on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Nagorno-Karabakh, as only the unwavering activity of the international community can curb Azerbaijan's aggression and provocative behavior, fulfill the commitments made in the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, and unblock the Lachin corridor.

At the same time, we will continue our consistent steps aimed at addressing the socio-economic issues of the Artsakh Armenians, overcoming security challenges, and forming mechanisms for the protection of the rights and safety of the Armenian population of Artsakh. The implementation of these objectives requires unwavering work and we must remain steadfast in that work.

Dear Artsakh residents, stay strong and unyielding for the sake of living and creating peacefully and securely in your homeland. In the face of new global and regional challenges, we must focus our efforts on realizing the peace agenda, no matter how complex the difficulties and challenges we understand await us on that path. Ultimately, a peaceful, dignified, and secure life has been the substantive goal of the Artsakh Movement, and we must move towards that goal.”