Metakse Hakobyan, a member of the “Justice” faction of the Artsakh Parliament, addressed the challenges facing the Armenians of Artsakh during the discussion titled “Artsakh Three Years Later: Facts, Political Responsibility, and the Agenda for the Future.”

According to her, the return of Armenians held in Azerbaijan cannot be regarded as a secondary humanitarian issue and must remain one of the priorities on Armenia’s political agenda. Hakobyan also referred to those killed and injured as a result of the 2023 military operations and the explosion in Stepanakert, more than 115,000 forcibly displaced people, and housing and economic problems.

In Hakobyan’s view, establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan should not mean the end of the political agenda concerning the rights of the people of Artsakh. She identified five main areas: preserving the political representation of the people of Artsakh, continuing to pursue the right of return on the international agenda, protecting property and other rights, consistently demanding the return of Armenians held in Azerbaijan, and ensuring a dignified and stable life for the Armenians of Artsakh in Armenia.

She emphasized the need to transition from a policy of assistance to a policy based on rights, viewing the Armenians of Artsakh not merely as beneficiaries of social assistance but as a people with their own rights and political voice.