Video: We have no intention of conceding Artsakh; we are starting an indefinite popular movement - Statement by the State Minister of Artsakh

Artsakh's State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan has delivered a video address.

“Dear Artsakh residents, beloved Armenians worldwide, the Republic of Artsakh has been under serious trials since September 27, 2020. Our people have been subjected to massacres, tortures, displacement, and suffering time and time again. Since December 12, 2022, it has been compounded by the blockade of Artsakh, blocking the lifeline connecting Artsakh to Armenia.

Since that day, the people of Artsakh have undergone numerous trials, preserving their identity and dignity. Taking on our share of the responsibility for homeland defense, the people of Artsakh have reiterated to the world and to the global Armenian community that our right to live with dignity in our homeland is inalienable; for this right, the people of Artsakh have paid the highest price.

The difficult living conditions, food shortages, cold, and darkness cannot compel us to give up our identity, dignity, and the most basic human rights to manage our own destiny and live in a peaceful and secure environment. These trials, adversities, and suffering have been endured by the people of Artsakh in full view of Mother Armenia, the global Armenian community, and the international community.

Since March 1, 2023, I have assumed the position of State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh, and from day one, we started preparing the country to face even heavier and more complex challenges. Although Artsakh has been under blockade, we had limited opportunities, and the needs of the people of Artsakh were met to a minimum through humanitarian deliveries organized a few times a week with just a handful of trucks; nonetheless, we were able to prepare to confront Azerbaijan's next provocation of a complete blockade of the people of Artsakh.

Today marks the 29th day that Artsakh is under total blockade. For 29 days, Artsakh, without a sufficient level of self-sufficiency, has been living on its internal resources. For seven months, the people of Artsakh have been living in conditions lacking basic living necessities, with gas and energy supply to Artsakh halted. It is evident that our resources are not infinite, and no matter how sparingly they are used, they will eventually be depleted; at that time, we will face catastrophic and irreversible losses and consequences.

This is not merely about bread. Fortunately, the resilient people of Artsakh have managed to self-organize and secure basic needs through their labor, but the limited quantity of other essential goods for basic community life and the criminal blockade on importing goods into Artsakh already pose serious threats and problems.

The people of Artsakh have been living under these conditions for a long time; some call it endurance, others call it struggle. But I, as a citizen of the Republic of Artsakh, one of the primary responsible members of the government, as a public official, want to ask: How long must we endure and fight this way? When will people begin to die in hospitals due to the lack of basic medical assistance or medicine? When will a citizen with a common health issue lose their life due to the impossibility of receiving medical care? When will the health of our children begin to deteriorate due to a lack of food with basic caloric intake? When will our elderly, citizens with health issues, mothers-to-be have to beg for food or vitamins? When will we be unable to deliver the existing food to the regions, or provide people with ordinary drinking water? When will we start discovering frostbitten bodies in this or that apartment?

A few days ago, we discovered the bodies of two young children left unattended, whose mother was forced to leave them at home alone in order to find food for them. Do we, the global Armenian community, or the currently observant international community, need similar situations or scenes? No, dear residents of Artsakh, it is unacceptable to succumb to all this with silent and passive behavior.

As bitter or horrifying as it may seem, Azerbaijan is leading us to this fate under the silence and almost inaction of the Republic of Armenia, the global Armenian community, the guarantor Russian Federation, and the international community. I firmly believe that the people of Artsakh do not deserve any of this and must not be subjected to such trials.

Therefore, we must awaken and rise up. Dear compatriots, you know, I have never been involved in politics, I do not suffer from petty political squabbles or self-interest, and my understanding of official responsibility is precisely this: a public official must be honest with the public, assume responsibility for leading the people, rather than thinking about shifting or sharing responsibility with someone else.

And now, when the people of Artsakh are facing grave dangers, when the physical safety of our people is not only not guaranteed but we face the imminent threat of physical annihilation, we must stand up and start a nationwide movement.

Before speaking about our next steps, I first want to address the people of the Republic of Armenia. Dear compatriots, the life and safety of the people of the Republic of Artsakh are seriously endangered. Just as yesterday, so today, the people of Artsakh live in the heart of Mother Armenia, aware that they have three million brothers and sisters in the Republic of Armenia. But, unfortunately, since the 44-day war in 2020, the people of Artsakh have felt the bitter loneliness. After the war, the people of Artsakh were well aware of the vulnerable state of Mother Armenia and have often remained restrained on numerous issues, trying to keep the Republic of Armenia shielded from pressures at their own expense, only to experience a lowering of expectations, declarations recognizing Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan, denial or ambiguity of the right to self-determination for the people of Artsakh, unguaranteed security, threats to physical existence, killings of civilians, instances of targeting.

In other words, after all this, the Armenian people saw not even a glimmer of peace, and now, when the physical existence of the people of Artsakh is at stake, we must re-evaluate our steps and future actions, and refrain from actions leading to the destruction of Armenian Artsakh and the Armenians of Artsakh. The situation is more critical than ever; the people of Artsakh are standing before serious challenges, and we must stop this disaster as soon as possible. Artsakh has exceptional significance for the Armenian people and Armenian statehood; Artsakh does not belong solely to the people of Artsakh. Therefore, we all must unite in this sacred mission to protect Artsakh.

Dear compatriots of the Republic of Armenia, do not remain silent, become part of the nationwide movement starting in Artsakh, take actions to raise awareness of the disaster facing the people of Artsakh before the people's representatives and authorities of Armenia, as well as international actors present in Armenia.

I appeal to the global Armenian community: Dear sisters and brothers, the people of Artsakh are under the threat of genocide, and just days from now, our people will face grave existential challenges. All of this is also a consequence of your silence and indifference; awaken and cry out, open all doors, and declare about the genocide of the 21st century. Today, many countries justify their passivity with your behavior. Prove that your brothers and sisters in Artsakh are not alone, they are not defenseless.

I turn to the key player of the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020, the Russian Federation. The people of the Republic of Artsakh are grateful to the Russian people for stopping the bloody 44-day war and for the peacekeeping efforts that continue to this day. The people of Artsakh have regarded the Russian people with confidence and loyalty and have approached the situation created for Russia today with understanding, but the current state of Artsakh and the events taking place around us have raised certain concerns among the people of Artsakh. Our people are watching with bewilderment the needs of the peacekeepers in Artsakh under total blockade being met by helicopters, while there are several phenomena that raise numerous unanswered and concerning questions.

But ultimately, our request is one: we kindly ask for the unimpeded movement through the corridor connecting Artsakh to Armenia, as stipulated in the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, for the transit of people and goods. If any of the parties to the trilateral statement is not fulfilling or improperly executing its obligations, then the people of Artsakh cannot be held responsible for the consequences of that. And if diplomatic-political efforts and actions are needed, they should be taken to ensure the fulfillment of those parties' obligations.

I address the international community: the situation in Artsakh is urgent, and we are days away from irreversible consequences. The people of Artsakh, including 30,000 children, cannot be the victims of the West-Russia confrontation or a bargaining chip. This is an issue whose only solution is to recognize the safety and rights, including the right to self-determination, of the people living in Artsakh as a supreme value. If this expectation for the peaceful and creative people of Artsakh is akin to waiting for a miracle, in reality, it is not naivety but a conviction that the world and humanity have not yet completely lost their true face and role.

If the so-called price for paying attention to the people of Artsakh is human losses and suffering, then we are once again very close to that. Our people have seen many losses and much suffering over the last three decades; awaken and do not wait for new cases of loss of human lives to have grounds for intervention; stop this escalating disaster while there is still time, and take up your share of responsibility for the protection of our people’s right to life, which is part of humanity.

No one can wish for peace in the region like we can. Moreover, if for some, peace or alternative methods represents politics, for us, peace is the possibility to live in our own homes, to educate and raise children—simple human needs.

Dear people of Artsakh, we have no intention of conceding or abandoning Artsakh; living in Artsakh is not just a right but an obligation. This is a written and unwritten law; this is an oath and responsibility. And therefore, we all, as one, will begin our peaceful struggle to preserve our existence and defend our national rights. Tomorrow, at 9 AM, we will gather at Renaissance Square in Stepanakert, where we will collectively determine our next actions.

We must awaken everyone, sound the alarm of disaster once again, and through our indefinite steps and actions, revive all the actors involved. We hope that at least this time and in this situation, the nationwide movement starting in Artsakh will receive the necessary response in Mother Armenia and in the Diaspora. God protect the land of Artsakh and the people of Artsakh.