VIDEO: March in Yerevan – Police Prevent Protesters from Entering France Square

Today, a gathering demanding the unblocking of Artsakh is being held in Yerevan, which has now turned into a march through the city’s central streets. Telegram channels are posting footage, stating that police have prevented protesters from entering France Square from Mesrop Mashtots Avenue.

Participants of the action have come out with placards reading 'We are Artsakh', 'Open the path to life'. They chant, 'Punish the genocidaires'. They are demanding that the Armenian government abandon the idea of recognizing Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan and cease similar statements.

They have also presented their other demands. 'Acknowledging that statements recognizing Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan have made Azerbaijan even more reckless, facilitated the installation of a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor, and invoked a passive response from the international community. Therefore, such statements and actions must be stopped as soon as possible,' they declared.

Participants are demanding that in negotiations related to Artsakh, the will of the Artsakh people should be expressed exclusively, indicating that Artsakh and its people cannot be part of Azerbaijan for numerous reasons.

Accordingly, they are calling on the Armenian government to protect the right of the Artsakh people to self-determination and the results of its implementation. 'Self-determination is our people's inalienable right; it is not subject to bargaining, and any compromising discussions around it are unacceptable. Instead of statements recognizing Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan, measures should be taken to present to the world the genocidal actions being carried out by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh, along with proper condemnation and punitive, deterrent actions,' they stated.

The participants emphasized the critical and urgent need for active diplomatic efforts towards unblocking Artsakh and ensuring security by employing all mechanisms of the UN, including adopting a resolution in the Security Council.

'In cases where the rights of the people of Artsakh cannot be upheld, refrain from any compromising, capitulatory statements regarding Artsakh,' they called.

During the action, a demand was also made to the Russian Federation to provide clear assessments of the genocidal actions carried out by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh, to stop merely issuing calls, and to take effective measures to extricate Artsakh from the humanitarian disaster it faces.

'Concrete measures should be taken to unblock the corridor connecting Artsakh to Armenia, as stipulated in the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, placing the corridor under the full control of peacekeeping forces operating in Artsakh, as mentioned in the provisions of that trilateral statement. Measures should be taken to cease daily incursions by Azerbaijan against Artsakh,' the participants stated.

Additionally, they demand that Russia ensure a ceasefire and peace in Artsakh, as well as guarantee the safety of the residents of Artsakh.

Addressing the USA, France, and the European Union, the participants demanded that they provide clear assessments of the genocidal actions perpetrated against the people of Artsakh by Azerbaijan and take measures to halt the ongoing crimes against humanity and humanitarian disasters afflicting the people of Artsakh.

'Protect the fundamental rights of the people living in Artsakh, ensuring their right to life, freedom from torture, self-determination, and others; apply clear sanctions against Azerbaijan and individuals committing war crimes to prevent any further possible crimes against the people of Artsakh and other peoples and groups in the region,' the members of the coordinating group of the action announced.

They also called for a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the prevention of genocide against the people of Artsakh, activating the entire mechanism to protect them. Additionally, they urged concrete steps to compel Azerbaijan to ensure the immediate and complete implementation of the acts related to the Lachin corridor as stipulated by the UN International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.

The participants demand humanitarian assistance for the people of Artsakh through both the Lachin corridor and air routes. They said that the proper organization of the International Red Cross's activities in Artsakh should be guaranteed, while preventing Azerbaijani oppression against international organizations.

The participants called on the West to ensure the entry of fact-finding and other missions into Artsakh, as well as to assure the stable operation of the UN and other international offices in Artsakh.