Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, marking the thirty-fifth anniversary of the “Karabakh Movement”, said the struggle to live in an independent Artsakh continues.

Dear compatriots,

February 20, 1988 entered the history of the Armenian people as a decisive turning point and became a symbol of the revival of our national spirit, the unity and consolidation of all Armenians. It was marked as Artsakh's revival day.

On that day, the extraordinary session of the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Council held in Stepanakert adopted a historic decision, which gave legal force to the long-term struggle of Artsakh Armenians for the protection of their rights and freedoms, national dignity. We announced to the world about our decisive and unshakable will to live free, independent and united in our native land, to manage our own destiny independently.

Even after 35 years, our decision remains unchanged, our spirit unbroken, our path unchanging. The people of Artsakh, who have been under siege for more than two months, proved with their endurance and determination that they are the owner of the decision they made, the owner of the path they chose and the land of their ancestors, which has always been and must be Armenian. 

We are deeply grateful and grateful to all those who are with us on this difficult path, to all our compatriots in Mother Armenia and the Diaspora, to the loyal friends of Artsakh in different parts of the world, who with their support give us inexhaustible strength for the sake of universal values, fundamental norms and principles of democracy. in our struggle for protection.

I bow my head in front of the bright memory of our martyrs who dedicated their lives to the sacred cause of defense of the motherland. They are always with us, by our side and guide us on our way to build the future of Artsakh. We are obliged to do everything to make the cherished dreams and goals of our heroes come true.

May God give peace, strength and energy, strong faith and hope to our people to overcome all trials with dignity and to implement national plans and dreams," the message reads.