The people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) sent an appeal-message to all Armenians and the world, in which it is stated:
"The people gathered in the Renaissance Square of Stepanakert, the capital of the Republic of Artsakh, appeal to all Armenians worldwide, the world community and every individual fighting for freedom and universal human values.
- Since December 12, Artsakh has been in complete blockade: over 120,000 people, including about 30,000 children, are in a difficult situation, deprived of any free movement and many vital opportunities related to it. Once again, the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan has grossly violated the norms of international law and the obligations assumed by the Tripartite Declaration of November 9, 2020;
- The unfailing functioning of the land road between Artsakh and Armenia cannot be a subject of any negotiations and bargaining. The communication connecting Artsakh and the outside world should be restored without preconditions and immediately, and conditions should be created to ensure its further uninterrupted activity;
- The ethnic cleansing and discriminatory policy that Azerbaijan carries out against the Armenian people, which gained new momentum due to the war imposed on us in the autumn of 2020 and its disastrous consequences. This policy aims at depopulating Armenian Artsakh by continuing the 1915 scenario of the Genocide, carried out by Turkey in Western Armenia;
- In 1988, it was the people’s will to live a free and independent life in their historical homeland that directed them to the liberation struggle, as a result of which we have a sovereign state, declared within the norms of international law, and visible political, economic, and social achievements that prove its viability.
- Today, when the existence of the Republic of Artsakh, the dream of all Armenians, is endangered, we, bowing before the memory of the Armenians who sacrificed their lives on the path of our liberation struggle, renew our vow to continue the deed of our holy martyrs and restore our dignity.
- In the course of the ongoing struggle, as in previous years, we still need the comprehensive support of the Motherland and all Armenians.
In the past years, Artsakh has been a symbol of Armenian identity and dignity. Today, when the second Armenian republic is facing new challenges, Artsakh should become the axis around which the all-national potential should be united. The future of the Republic of Artsakh is a matter of national significance, and requires pan-Armenian consolidation and solidarity.
- The Republic of Artsakh will continue to make efforts of strengthening the security and defense of the people, combining their capabilities and those of the Peacekeeping Mission of the Russian Federation;
- As a state guided by the supremacy of international fundamental rights, the Republic of Artsakh will continue to adhere to universal values and be constructive. Expansionist ambitions and economic interests should not dictate modern international relations. Artsakh is the point on the world map from which, as in 1988, the moral world order of the 21st century can start taking shape."
