Nikol Pashinyan's Statement

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, has sent a message on the occasion of May 9th.
"Dear people, dear compatriots, I congratulate everyone on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of victory in World War II, the Great Patriotic War. With the victory achieved in the war, civilized humanity said no to one of the greatest evils - fascism. The role of the Armenian people in this endeavor is invaluable, with more than half a million representatives contributing significantly to the Soviet Army, allied forces, and partisan and resistance movements to save humanity from fascism.
Many Armenian heroes displayed their bravery in this struggle, sacrificing their lives for human civilization. We had more than 300,000 casualties in the war. Around 107 Armenians were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and numerous Armenians received high honors from the USSR and allied countries, securing the honorable place of the Armenian people in the fight against fascism.
Dear people, dear compatriots, in recent years, we have been greeting May 9 with bitterness and anxiety. This is primarily related to the severe consequences of the 44-day war in 2020, particularly the loss of Shushi and the aggressive politics surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh and the Republic of Armenia. The tumultuous international situation further exacerbates this issue, as the security systems in our region are distorted.
In this situation, our greatest obligation before the martyrs who gave their lives for the Fatherland is to strengthen and empower our statehood, and this program should include the normalization of our relations in the region. This approach must guarantee the existence of the Armenian people in their homeland. A strong and developed Republic of Armenia is what should become the testament to the valor and memory of all our martyrs.
Glory to all the martyrs who gave their lives for the Fatherland! Glory to all the tireless fighters who have done everything possible and impossible to establish our state!"