The recent decision by Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan has sparked dissatisfaction among Artsakh’s political and social circles. A few days ago, the Artsakh Information Center reported that people were relocating from the Republic of Armenia to Artsakh and vice versa. This behavior of the authorities has caused resentment in Artsakh’s opposition circles, who are demanding explanations from the authorities. Hakob Hakobyan, the leader of the opposition party, stated, “This decision is nothing short of crossing a red line. We have consistently emphasized that Artsakh must maintain an uninterrupted, unobstructed land connection with Armenia. This is a red line for us, and today that line has been crossed.”

He emphasized the unacceptability of the situation and added, “The people of Artsakh need to understand that even if the authorities facilitate transportation for passengers, they will not be able to use that route. This issue requires the collective will of both the Artsakh authorities and the entire population, as it is not enough to simply state that Artsakh cannot be part of Azerbaijan. We are often asked what measures should be taken to prevent this, and now we are saying that you should not take that path.”

The government of Western Armenia welcomes the position of Hakob Hakobyan, head of Artsakh’s “Ardarutyun” opposition party. We constantly emphasize the rights of the indigenous population on all political and governmental platforms.

During the session of the UN Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore held in Geneva from June 5-9, 2023, President of Western Armenia, Armenak Abrahamyan, delivered two speeches addressing the rights and cultural heritage of indigenous peoples. You can find these speeches on our website. We believe that the resilient compatriots of Artsakh understand the significance of their indigenous identity and are prepared to defend their rights.