Today, the "Jirayr Sefilyan Citizen's Rights Defense Committee" issued a public appeal to the All-Armenia Fund, urging the benevolent organization to raise the issue of granting citizenship to Jirayr Sefilyan with the President of Armenia. The appeal states that the All-Armenia Fund, while recognizing the need to transform the historic Artsakh city of Shushi into a spiritual and cultural center, must not forget those who sacrificed all to liberate the town which led to the possibility of joining Artsakh with Mother Armenia. The appeal states that Jirayr Sefilyan participated in the liberation of Shushi and that he commanded a special unit in the battle and calls into question the fact that such a person has yet to be granted Armenian citizenship.