NA of Artsakh calls on OSCE MG to take immediate steps to resume negotiation process 

The National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh has issued a statement on the occasion of the Artsakh Revival Day.

"The events that took place in February 1988 in Artsakh (the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region) radically changed the further chronicle of not only the Armenian people living here, but also other nations of the former Soviet Union.

Tens of thousands of people, using the liberal and democratic ideas proclaimed in the USSR, through peaceful rallies in Stepanakert and other settlements of the region, were trying to restore historical justice - the unrealized dream of several generations about the reunification of the Armenian region with Armenia.

Over the past 34 years, we have passed a long way of formation and development, victories and failures, and during this time the idea has strengthened that the future of the Armenian Artsakh is guaranteed only in the perspective of a free and independent life.

Expressing the collective will and opinion of the people of Artsakh, the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh

• Reaffirms its loyalty to the historic decision taken in February 20, 1988 and the determination to defend its right to live freely in its native land,

• Draws the attention of interested international structures and, first of all, the parliaments of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries to the fact that the Armenian people of Artsakh have been fighting for centuries to preserve their identity, they have created material and cultural values that are now under threat as a result of Azerbaijan's occupation of some territories of the Republic of Artsakh,

• Call on the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to take immediate steps to resume the negotiation process on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in accordance with the mandate received from the OSCE.

Lasting peace and stability in the region can be achieved only by respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of the Republic of Artsakh. For this purpose the Armenians of Artsakh began their liberation struggle in 1988 and are ready to continue it with determination to achieve the ultimate goal," the statement reads.

Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh issued a statement on criminal prosecution of Azerbaijani authorities against President of Artsakh

"The statement of the Azerbaijani authorities related to the criminal prosecution of the President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan is a step aimed at concealing their own war crimes, misleading the international community and intimidating the peaceful population of Artsakh.

The Azerbaijani authorities have always pursued a policy of isolating Artsakh from the outside world, concealing human rights violations and war crimes against peace by falsifying facts. In doing so, they continue to grossly violate the absolute international requirements of human rights and humanitarian law.

After the 44-day war, this policy of the Azerbaijani authorities has intensified and took new forms. They do not allow people to rebuild their lives after the war, they constantly try to create an atmosphere of despair for the civilian population through daily criminal encroachments on the security of people, life and other vital rights and other terrorist acts.

The purpose of the persecution announced by the Azerbaijani authorities against the President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan is nothing but to intimidate every person living in Artsakh, to cause panic among the civilian population. Even the wording of the Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies clearly testifies to this goal. This, in turn, means that the persecution is politically motivated; is based on blatant manipulation of facts.

We confidently inform the international community that the Azerbaijani authorities will continue to falsify the facts, misleading with new methods, such as hiding their criminal acts against the civilian population behind calls for peace, until they are held liable for their genocidal policies; subjected to targeted response and punished for their criminal acts," the statement reads.

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