Statement by the Coordinating Council of Russian-Armenian Organizations (CC RAO) in connection with the 30th anniversary of the victorious Karabakh liberation movement of the Armenian people and the Day of the Revival of Artsakh
February 20, 2018
Exactly 30 years ago, in February 1988, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) decided its fate and took the path of independence. Since 1921, the monstrous absurdity has gone on — trusting to Turkey’s false promises to carry the flag of the world revolution in Muslim countries, the Bolshevik leadership generously donated the historical Armenian lands to Azerbaijan (Artsakh and Nakhijevan) and to Turkey (territories of Western and Eastern Armenia with Mount Ararat). As a result, Nakhchivan lost its Armenian population, and in Artsakh the number of Armenians steadily decreased and was oppressed in every possible way.
From the Armenians of Artsakh it was a peaceful and fair demand of citizens, which, however, did not fit into the plans of the Baku authorities. In response to the decision of the Armenians, Azerbaijan, which was artificially created by Turkey in 1918, responded with the Genocide in Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad and other cities. Thousands of Armenians, Jews and Russians became victims of extremists led by the Azerbaijani authorities and incited by the local mafia. More than half a million Armenians became forced exiles from places where they and their ancestors lived hundreds of years.
The Baku authorities had fears that, following Karabakh, they could lose also Lezgistan, Talyshistan and other territories of autochthonous peoples that had nothing to do with the state body of outlandish Turks. That is why Azerbaijan, thirty times superior to Artsakh by population, after Genocide and expulsion of Armenians from other cities and regions, tried to drown in blood the will of the people of Artsakh in the most cruel manner. However, this unequal and bloody war even more hardened the spirit of the Armenians of Artsakh, gave them the strength to defend their historical lands and become their true owners. This liberation war united the Armenians of the whole world.
Thanks to the unbending will and patriotic spirit, a new generation of Armenians has been brought up today, for which freedom and independence are the highest values. The victorious Artsakh liberation movement is the beginning of the inevitable restoration of justice in the settlement of the Armenian Cause (Hay Dat). The Armenian people will never ever leave the land on which stands the foot of the Armenian Soldier — Liberator and Winner.
As it was said at the end of the film «Miatsum» https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW4QsZQncXs: from now on the joyful chime of the bells of the Armenian churches will herald the victorious procession of the servants of their Homeland, pulled together under the flag of the united historical lands — which today flutters over Armenia and Artsakh, but should and will rise above the entire Free and United Armenia.
Eternal memory to the heroes fallen in the battles for independence!
Long live the free Republic of Artsakh!
