Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued the following remarks today on the 31st anniversary of what is deemed the start of the Karabakh Movement.

Dear compatriots!

On this day of 1988, February 20, an event occurred that was historic in all respects.

The regional council of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region made a decision on joining Armenia.

The people of Armenia expressed their full support for this decision. Soon, our sisters and brothers from the Diaspora joined their compatriots from Artsakh and Armenia. February 20, 1988 was a unique example of our national revival that inspired millions of people. We regained our national unity, solidarity, determination.

In Armenia and Artsakh, a national movement was formed, which was exceptional in its dynamics and inevitability, it was deeply national and at the same time deeply democratic. The realization of the right of peoples to self-determination and democratic freedoms became a clear goal to which our people aspired, convinced that freedom and independence represents indisputable values.

Thirty years later, in the spring of 2018, we again experienced a new revolutionary awakening as a people, as a society and as a state, proceeding from the ideas that are dear to each of us. We proved, first of all to ourselves, and then to the whole world that we are worthy and patriotic citizens of our country, that we remain committed to our struggle and ideals, committed to the path of freedom that Armenia and Artsakh have embraced.

Long live free Artsakh!
Long live free Armenia!