Today, September 2, marks the 35th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the Republic of Artsakh.

On this occasion, numerous public and political figures, as well as representatives of Artsakh’s political leadership, visited the Yerablur Military Pantheon to lay flowers at the “Call of Artsakh” memorial.

“When the Armenians of Artsakh decided on September 2 to stand up for their rights, their political future, and their present, it became one of the most memorable, significant, and dignified days in our history. Unfortunately, today that day has been overshadowed. It has been overshadowed as a result of the unbalanced foreign policy pursued by the current political authorities and an equally unbalanced domestic policy. Nevertheless, I want to remain optimistic, and it is no coincidence that, despite this great injustice, we are once again at Yerablur today, where our heroes who gave their lives in the Artsakh liberation struggle and in the fight for our collective dignity and rights are laid to rest,” ARF Bureau member and Armenia Alliance parliamentary faction MP Lilit Galstyan told reporters.

According to Galstyan, September 2 must continue to be honored because it represents one of the dignified days in Armenia’s long history: a day symbolizing Artsakh’s self-determination, the right to live in accordance with that self-determination, the defense of the rights and dignity of the people of Artsakh, and an awareness of statehood for both the people of Artsakh and Armenians more broadly.

Ishkhan Saghatelyan, representative of the ARF Supreme Council of Armenia and an MP from the Armenia Alliance faction, told reporters:

“Artsakh is Armenian, and Nikol Pashinyan is not the person who should determine whether Artsakh is Armenian or not. Naturally, he continues to serve the policies pursued by Turkey and Azerbaijan and their interests in Armenia. Nevertheless, I have said it before and will continue to insist that Artsakh is Armenian.”

Saghatelyan noted that at all international meetings, the ARF, through its Armenian National Committee structures, continues to raise the Artsakh issue. However, he said that the issue is not advancing and that it has become extremely difficult to keep Artsakh on the international agenda because there is no state standing behind the issue.

“Not only is there no state supporting it, but the state is actively working against it. We are doing everything possible to keep the issue on the agenda, but we constantly encounter not only the policies of the Turkish and Azerbaijani governments, but also the anti-Armenian policies of the Armenian government,” Saghatelyan said.

Gagik Baghunts, Acting President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, told reporters that numerous meetings and hearings have been organized at the Representation of the Republic of Artsakh.

“Together with all those forces concerned both about the fate of Artsakh and the immediate challenges facing the people of Artsakh, we are trying to develop a policy that will ensure that Artsakh is not forgotten,” he said.

Garnik Danielyan, a member of the ARF Supreme Council of Armenia, emphasized:

“Once again, we have come to pay our respects and to keep alive the memory of our fallen boys. Honor and reverence to all those who gave their lives for the homeland. We come here with a sense of shame, as I said earlier, because we still have nothing to tell them. But I have hope and faith that one day we will come to their graves with good news and will have something positive to tell them. Neither Nikol Pashinyan nor any government can close the chapter on Artsakh. Their political chapter will come to an end at some point, but the chapter of Artsakh will not.”

Vahram Balayan, a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, also told reporters:

“We are fighting for the protection of the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh. The Armenians of Artsakh must have the opportunity to return to their ancestral homes.”

More details are available in the video.